BOOK REVIEW

Abstract

RJ KURMAN, editor. Blaustein's Pathology of the Female Genital Tract. 5th edn. With 1410 Illustrations, 1391 pages. 4060 g. New York, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 2002. Hardcover price: EUR 199.00, SFR 322.00, GBP 139.50, USD 189.00 (the Euro price is a net price being subject to local VAT). ISBN 0-387-95203-9. Despite recent strides in ultrasonography and genetics, pathology remains the basic guiding tool in gynecology. Most of our diagnoses are based upon the pathologist's reports, which in turn determine treatment and give the prognostic clues. The clinician who is familiar with the microscopic as well as the macroscopic morphology, will do a better job and be better able to convey the appropriate information to patients. Blaustein's Pathology of the Female Genital Tract is the perfect guide to pathologists and clinicians alike. I reviewed the first edition, which appeared in 1977, for Tidsskrift for Den norske lægeforening (Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association), and was thoroughly impressed. The fifth edition lives up to expectations. The editor, Robert J. Kurman, states that approximately one- third of the book has undergone major revisions, not least because of extensive revisions of the classification systems on tumors and tumor precursors since the fourth edition in 1994. Most of the illustrations are photomicrographs, including 375 new ones. None of them is in color, because Dr Kurman feels that color reproductions generally lack the clarity and crispness of good black-and-white pictures. I agree, and feel confident that all who study this excellent book will too. With one exception (Canada) the 29 authors are from the USA. In lucid chapters, they cover every conceivable aspect of gynecologic pathology, including embryology and disorders of abnormal sexual behavior, diseases of the peritoneum, diseases of the placenta, molecular biology and epidemiology. Endometriosis is extensively covered in the chapter on diseases of the peritoneum. Clinical features and treatment follow the description of almost every pathological entity. Even case reports are included, to illustrate the chronologic sequence of progression of simple endometrial hyperplasia to carcinoma during the course of several years. With new capital letter abbreviations appearing at an 2 amazing rate (AIS, AJCC, APUD, APCCT, ABC, to quote a few from the beginning of the alphabet), a separate list would have been welcome, in addition to appearances in parentheses in the general index. Because of easy access to computerized searches, the lists of references have been limited to articles published in the last decade as well as some large older series that are still clinically relevant. Nevertheless, most of the chapters number upward of 300 references. I note with satisfaction that Scandinavian contributions are included, among them several originating from the Norwegian Radium Hospital. Another reference pleasing to this reviewer is that from the preface: a quotation from Henrik Ibsen in a letter to his publisher, expressing his curious feeling of emptiness upon having finished a play, although it felt good to be done with it. Professor Kurman has every reason to feel good. Blaustein's Pathology of the Female Genital Tract will remain the yardstick for years to come. It belongs in every hospital or departmental library. Individual gynecologists and pathologists will not regret buying it for private perusal.