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Soft Tissue Tumours by Matthew Lindberg is part of the excellent Diagnostic Pathology series. Its 4th edition includes several updated features, including new chapters to reflect the updated WHO classification of soft tissue tumours.
It is logically arranged in sections based on tumour differentiation, with each section subdivided into benign, intermediate (locally aggressive and rarely metastasising) and malignant categories, with short chapters on each entity within. The physical copy also comes with an eBook version, accessible online, containing an extended collection of images and an effective search function.
Features that particularly stand out are the ‘approach to diagnosis’ chapters and the extensive immunohistochemistry tables. The former consist of a series of differential diagnoses categorised by patient age, site of tumour and broad morphological categories, a feature I found invaluable. In my experience as a trainee, soft tissue pathology can seem a vast and sometimes overwhelming area; these chapters provide practical starting points to narrow your differential and formulate a sensible work-up.
The detailed immunohistochemistry tables outline the main diagnostic utility of each stain, with helpful tips and pitfalls to be aware of. Also included are suggested panels for tumours of specific sites and morphologies, as well as tables that address potentially unexpected immunohistochemical results. The list of soft tumours with frequent keratin expression may prove a useful resource when presented with challenging immunoprofiles in day-to-day practice.
Each chapter also includes an impressive range of accompanying images, both microscopic and macroscopic. These are particularly helpful for entities with a broad morphological spectrum; for example, the chapter on gastrointestinal stromal tumours includes almost 70 histological images.
It is worth noting that the book is largely arranged in bullet points. While this allows key facts to be found quickly and makes for an excellent reference text, it may not suit those who prefer a more prose-like format.
Overall, this is an excellent book, both for practising consultant pathologists and trainees. Its clear and logical layout, concise language and excellent images provide an accessible route into an area of pathology that can be daunting as a trainee. Equally, the diagnostic approaches and in-depth immunohistochemical reference tables are helpful in tackling live cases.
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