Reviewer: Sarah L P Rooney, BA, MD (University of Michigan Medical School)
Description: This third edition guide to the biopsy interpretation of the breast is an up-to-date, practical resource that covers the full spectrum of breast lesions from epithelial to mesenchymal and vascular to inflammatory. Fantastic images and well-organized text with expert commentary all in a reference-sized book are just a few of this title's noteworthy features. The previous edition was published in 2013.
Purpose: This book aims to be a concise, practical, and accessible guide to breast pathology. It has up-to-date information, particularly with respect to molecular biology and genetics of breast cancer and other breast lesions.
Audience: The audience is practicing pathologists and pathology trainees. Its pattern-based organization is ideal for scope-side reference during daily sign out. The authors are experts in breast pathology from Harvard Medical School.
Features: After an introduction to normal breast histology, the book introduces abnormal histology with nonneoplastic lesions including reactive and inflammatory processes. Neoplastic processes comprise most of the book, with chapters specifically addressing atypia, carcinoma in situ, microinvasion, and invasive epithelial lesions. Mixed epithelial and stromal, pure stromal, and vascular lesions also get equal attention. Finally, chapters on rare lesions discuss the nipple areola complex, male and prepubescent breast, as well as lymph nodes and post-treatment tissue. The final chapter is perhaps the most practical, as it discusses published guidelines and offers expert advice where guidelines are lacking on topics such as specimen handling, correlation with radiology, and report content. Throughout, the authors educate readers on how each diagnosis will affect the patient's clinical course. The book is formatted in well-organized text and easy-to-read tables, and supplemented by numerous high-quality images. Updates since the last edition include advances in molecular biology and genetics of breast lesions, the most current views on terminology, diagnostic criteria, and adjunctive studies including recently published guidelines on lumpectomy margin evaluation. The effect of the ever-increasing neoadjuvant therapy is addressed and pitfalls associated with core-needle biopsy are more heavily emphasized. In addition, the book has been updated with 100 new images.
Assessment: Like the previous editions, this is a concise resource for practicing pathologists focused on pattern recognition and differential diagnoses. In addition to aiding pathologists in diagnostic queries, the book addresses common practical problems such as limited tissue sampling, specimen processing, pathology reports, and clinical practice guidelines. Updates include advances in molecular biology and genetics, terminology, diagnostic criteria, available adjunctive studies, and recently published guidelines on clinical practice and specimen evaluation. New high-quality images complement excellent histological descriptions and differential discussions. The greatest strength of this book is the ability of the authors to provide expert consultation on so many diagnostic entities due in part to their experience but also to their teaching ability. This is an excellent resource for any practicing pathologist.