Abstract
It is encouraging that books dealing with the basic techniques of diagnostic haematology continue to be published. The scope of this 400-page book is broad, encompassing morphology, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, immunophenotyping and to some extent, radiology. There are 19 chapters, 10 of which deal with haematological neoplasms. In addition to red-cell themes, there are also chapters on haemophilia and blood transfusion. The 40 contributors are all drawn from the USA. Illustrations are generally of high quality. Most chapters are accurate and authoritative. The inclusion of clinical photographs and case studies in several chapters is a strength that could be emulated, linking as it does the laboratory features with the clinical approach to the patient. Do I have any reservations? The manner of stating the magnification of microscopic images is inconsistent between chapters and units used for the elements of the blood count are also inconsistent. Granulocyte is sometimes used as a synonym for neutrophil; it is not. Up-to-date gene names are not always used and sometimes are inconsistent within a single chapter, for example, ABL and ABL1, and MLL and KMT2A. There are some curious errors: a page of illustrations stated to be high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) actually shows capillary electrophoresis; an image of ‘beta thalassaemia minor’ shows two nucleated red blood cells and appears consistent with thalassaemia intermedia; T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukaemia is included in a chapter on myeloid neoplasms; a PEARL stain makes an appearance as does a haematoxylin and eosin-stained peripheral blood smear; and TdT is said to mean ‘tonoplast dicarboxylate transporter’ (it does, but was not intended here). Fortunately these errors are infrequent and the book will be appreciated.
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