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The Theory and Practice of Histological Techniques
Pathology (1992), 24, pp. 320-321
BOOK REVIEWS
Essentials of Aspiration Biopsy Cytology. GWKHANH NGUVENAND T I I D ES. KLINE.lgaku-Shoin, New York, Tokyo, 1991. ISBN 0-89640-14188-0,pp. X V +184, AUD $80.00. Nguyen and Kline concentrate on brevity and the essentials. Tilde Kline and Cia-Khanh Nguyen are well-respected cytopathologists with a most impressive experience well-documented in the suggested reading lists at the end of each chapter. Their illustrations are in black-and-white but are of uniformly high quality. The chapter on Central Nervous System of 12 pages and 13 illustrations is especially valuable, again with the authorship well-represented in the suggested reading list. Many will find this a valuable addition to their library of Cytopathology texts and journals. N . F. Pace-v
The Theory and Pracrice of Histological Techniques, 3rd edition. Editors: Churchill Livingstone, JOHN D. BANCROFTA N D ALAN STEVENS. Edinburgh, London, Melbourne, New York, 1990. ISBN 0-443-03559-8, pp xiv+726, $165. In the last 20 to 30 years we have witnessed considerable advances in medical technology which are relevant to the surgical pathologist. We have seen the introduction of transmission and scanning electron microscopy and recently electron probe microanalysis. More recently we have seen the use of flow cytometry, chromosomal analysis and hybridoma rechnology. The various techniques currently used for the preparation of tissues for histopathological diagnosis is a vast improvement on those used in the past. No longer are histopathologists and morphologists content with basic hematoxylin and eosin stained sections for surgical diagnosis. Many of the histological techniques previously regarded as experimental tools have now become imponant routine tools in most large diagnostic laboratories. The pathologist’s task has been made easier (sometimes more difficult) with the help of special stains, immunohistochemistry,molecular genetics and electron microscopy. With a combination of all these techniques the pathologist is now in a position to better evaluate the dynamics of diseases. For instance the antigenic expression of various breast tumor\ can be assessed by immunoperoxidase techniques and suspected genetic diseases can be studied by molecular biology methods. The additional information can be provided to the clinician to assist himiher to tailor his/her treatment and more accurately predict the prognosis. In practice, although the pathologist is responsible for the final diagnosis, he cannot do so unless the tissues are properly prepared by accepted laboratory techniques. No pathologist, regardless of how experienced, can make a diagnosis on poorly prepared material. A good knowledge of histological techniques is therefore particularly important for both technician and pathologist. This book contains all the information that is required for a histopathological laboratory. I t contains information on basic and more advanced techniques in light microscopy, special stains, special methods for preparation of neuropathological tissues, enzyme histochemistry, cytology techniques, immunofluorescent techniques as well as plastic embedding techniques and electron microscopy. All the theoretical aspects of techniques are discussed and the practical details set out step by step in each section. .Apart from the editors there are 30 other contributors. The editors have rnade attempts to reduce the cost by cutting down on the
size of the book and omitting colour illustrations. The book is still substantial with 725 pages and it is particularly impressive in that it covers basic techniques of autoradiography as well as museum techniques for preserving and mounting specimens. The more modern techniques of molecular genetics and in situ hybridization techniques are understandably not included in this book. This book should be a standard reference book for all histopathology and research laboratories.
L. C. J . Yong Inrerpretation of Protein and Isoenzyme Patterns in Body Fluids. TSIEH SUN. Igaku-Shoin Publications, New York, Tokyo, 1991. ISBN 0-89640-220-9, pp xi + 255. $137.00. This book, as stated in the preface by Professor Tsieh Sun, was written following a lengthy experience and interest in reporting electrophoretograms. His obvious zeal has generated new disciples in the art and beauty of electrophoresis. There are 15 chapters covering a general introduction; clinical significanceof plasma proteins, the complement system, immunoglobulin abnormalities, basic principles and techniques in protein electrophoresis, serum protein electrophoresis, electrophoresis of the urine, electrophoresis of the CSF, immunoelectrophoresis,immunofwation electrophoresis and immunoblotting, quantitation of heavy and light chains, lipoprotein analysis, lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes, CK isoenzymes and acid phosphatase isoenzymes. The balance of material between chapters is excellent. This book is well illustrated with diagrams and tables, and is printed on high quality paper. The author has endeavoured to give a very practical insight into the positive and negative aspects of electrophoresis(excuse the pun). However certain points could have been better presented, for example, the use of the term normal and reference ranges instead of the correct term of reference intervals, and the use of aspartate transaminase instead of asparate aminotransferase. SI units could have been given along with the conventional units as the book is meant for a world-wide market. Some comments about individual chapters: chapter 2, the table on iron, could have included ferritin; the view on Wilson’s disease is simplistic; mention of T3 uptake test for thyroid function is outdated; inadequate explanation of API phenotypes and the paragraph on B2 Microglobulin in myeloma discusses its relevance but no meaty detail or recent references is provided on its application. Chapter 3 contains an excellent review of the complement system. Chapter 4 provides “new” information on 1gG subclasses but only one reference is from 1990, others were from 1982, 1974, 1987, 1980 and 1981; whilst in Chapter 1 it states that investigation of immunoglobulin abnormalities is the most important use of protein electrophoresis - there could have been a more in depth but succinct discussion on multiple myeloma. Chapter 5 is an excellent chapter on principles and techniques of electrophoresis. In Chapter 6 the section on EPG report formatting was disappointing. I thought this would have been an ideal opportunity to include some innovative ideas on reporting techniques; the paragraph on monoclonal gammopathy could have contained an expert’s view of features separating benign and malignant; the reproduction of the EPGs is however superb. Chapters 7, 8, and 9 are straightforward although figure 9.12(B) contains no mention of the probable artifact at the origin. Chapter 11 provides the reader with informative suggestions about the value of a mathematical procedure not commonly utilized in this country. Chapter
BOOK REVIEWS
Essentials of Aspiration Biopsy Cytology. GWKHANH NGUVENAND T I I D ES. KLINE.lgaku-Shoin, New York, Tokyo, 1991. ISBN 0-89640-14188-0,pp. X V +184, AUD $80.00. Nguyen and Kline concentrate on brevity and the essentials. Tilde Kline and Cia-Khanh Nguyen are well-respected cytopathologists with a most impressive experience well-documented in the suggested reading lists at the end of each chapter. Their illustrations are in black-and-white but are of uniformly high quality. The chapter on Central Nervous System of 12 pages and 13 illustrations is especially valuable, again with the authorship well-represented in the suggested reading list. Many will find this a valuable addition to their library of Cytopathology texts and journals. N . F. Pace-v
The Theory and Pracrice of Histological Techniques, 3rd edition. Editors: Churchill Livingstone, JOHN D. BANCROFTA N D ALAN STEVENS. Edinburgh, London, Melbourne, New York, 1990. ISBN 0-443-03559-8, pp xiv+726, $165. In the last 20 to 30 years we have witnessed considerable advances in medical technology which are relevant to the surgical pathologist. We have seen the introduction of transmission and scanning electron microscopy and recently electron probe microanalysis. More recently we have seen the use of flow cytometry, chromosomal analysis and hybridoma rechnology. The various techniques currently used for the preparation of tissues for histopathological diagnosis is a vast improvement on those used in the past. No longer are histopathologists and morphologists content with basic hematoxylin and eosin stained sections for surgical diagnosis. Many of the histological techniques previously regarded as experimental tools have now become imponant routine tools in most large diagnostic laboratories. The pathologist’s task has been made easier (sometimes more difficult) with the help of special stains, immunohistochemistry,molecular genetics and electron microscopy. With a combination of all these techniques the pathologist is now in a position to better evaluate the dynamics of diseases. For instance the antigenic expression of various breast tumor\ can be assessed by immunoperoxidase techniques and suspected genetic diseases can be studied by molecular biology methods. The additional information can be provided to the clinician to assist himiher to tailor his/her treatment and more accurately predict the prognosis. In practice, although the pathologist is responsible for the final diagnosis, he cannot do so unless the tissues are properly prepared by accepted laboratory techniques. No pathologist, regardless of how experienced, can make a diagnosis on poorly prepared material. A good knowledge of histological techniques is therefore particularly important for both technician and pathologist. This book contains all the information that is required for a histopathological laboratory. I t contains information on basic and more advanced techniques in light microscopy, special stains, special methods for preparation of neuropathological tissues, enzyme histochemistry, cytology techniques, immunofluorescent techniques as well as plastic embedding techniques and electron microscopy. All the theoretical aspects of techniques are discussed and the practical details set out step by step in each section. .Apart from the editors there are 30 other contributors. The editors have rnade attempts to reduce the cost by cutting down on the
size of the book and omitting colour illustrations. The book is still substantial with 725 pages and it is particularly impressive in that it covers basic techniques of autoradiography as well as museum techniques for preserving and mounting specimens. The more modern techniques of molecular genetics and in situ hybridization techniques are understandably not included in this book. This book should be a standard reference book for all histopathology and research laboratories.
L. C. J . Yong Inrerpretation of Protein and Isoenzyme Patterns in Body Fluids. TSIEH SUN. Igaku-Shoin Publications, New York, Tokyo, 1991. ISBN 0-89640-220-9, pp xi + 255. $137.00. This book, as stated in the preface by Professor Tsieh Sun, was written following a lengthy experience and interest in reporting electrophoretograms. His obvious zeal has generated new disciples in the art and beauty of electrophoresis. There are 15 chapters covering a general introduction; clinical significanceof plasma proteins, the complement system, immunoglobulin abnormalities, basic principles and techniques in protein electrophoresis, serum protein electrophoresis, electrophoresis of the urine, electrophoresis of the CSF, immunoelectrophoresis,immunofwation electrophoresis and immunoblotting, quantitation of heavy and light chains, lipoprotein analysis, lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes, CK isoenzymes and acid phosphatase isoenzymes. The balance of material between chapters is excellent. This book is well illustrated with diagrams and tables, and is printed on high quality paper. The author has endeavoured to give a very practical insight into the positive and negative aspects of electrophoresis(excuse the pun). However certain points could have been better presented, for example, the use of the term normal and reference ranges instead of the correct term of reference intervals, and the use of aspartate transaminase instead of asparate aminotransferase. SI units could have been given along with the conventional units as the book is meant for a world-wide market. Some comments about individual chapters: chapter 2, the table on iron, could have included ferritin; the view on Wilson’s disease is simplistic; mention of T3 uptake test for thyroid function is outdated; inadequate explanation of API phenotypes and the paragraph on B2 Microglobulin in myeloma discusses its relevance but no meaty detail or recent references is provided on its application. Chapter 3 contains an excellent review of the complement system. Chapter 4 provides “new” information on 1gG subclasses but only one reference is from 1990, others were from 1982, 1974, 1987, 1980 and 1981; whilst in Chapter 1 it states that investigation of immunoglobulin abnormalities is the most important use of protein electrophoresis - there could have been a more in depth but succinct discussion on multiple myeloma. Chapter 5 is an excellent chapter on principles and techniques of electrophoresis. In Chapter 6 the section on EPG report formatting was disappointing. I thought this would have been an ideal opportunity to include some innovative ideas on reporting techniques; the paragraph on monoclonal gammopathy could have contained an expert’s view of features separating benign and malignant; the reproduction of the EPGs is however superb. Chapters 7, 8, and 9 are straightforward although figure 9.12(B) contains no mention of the probable artifact at the origin. Chapter 11 provides the reader with informative suggestions about the value of a mathematical procedure not commonly utilized in this country. Chapter