Book review

Abstract

Ackerman, BA, Guo, Y, Lazova, R, Kaddu, S . Differential Diagnosis in Dermatopathology II , 2nd edn. New York, USA : Ardor Scribendi Publishers, 2001. Most physicians have little time or energy to expend on extraneous information. In keeping with the spirit of this notion, these authors have chosen to present challenging situations that practising dermatopathologists frequently encounter. Hence, the reader should have a basic foundation in dermatopathology in order to gain the most from this text. In this regard, the book is best used as an adjunct to one's library. Its design allows for quick reference to entities that pose confounding histological and/or clinical characteristics. Each chapter is dedicated to a single case involving two diseases with histological and/or clinical overlap. The layout of each chapter affords the reader an outline comparing and contrasting the two diseases. A discussion follows each outline, thereby providing information and explanations needed to understand the disease and the differential diagnosis. Particularly clever is the illustrative layout of Chapter 6. By using the mirror image of one disease to show the features of another, the text adroitly demonstrates acute discoid lupus erythematosus and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus to be histologically indistinguishable. The illustrations are magnificent, utilizing high-resolution images to depict the slightest morphological change. There is also an extensive glossary of terms provided. Equally unique is the absence of an index or a table of contents. In this manner, the text parallels real-life experiences around the microscope. That is, it presents various disease processes with subtle histological or clinical differences. Thus, one could conceivably read this book leisurely, almost as a novel, identifying with the clues and pitfalls reminiscent of everyday sign-out. However, the statements and ideas are so powerful that, despite the pleasurableness of this book, they also serve as poignant anecdotes to be used in times of imminent crisis. I have been given a delightful opportunity to review Differential Diagnosis in Dermatopathology II. I highly recommend it for those individuals searching for concise methods to differentiate diseases with overlapping features. I found it to be useful and am eager to read the other books in this series. Access to the completeset would be an invaluable asset to the edification of one's knowledge and could, potentially, serve as a life-saving reference when faced with difficult diagnostic situations.