Consultant pathology: Tumorigenic melanocytic proliferations

Abstract

Tumorigenic melanocytic proliferations, by David Elder, is part of the Consultant Pathology series published by Demos Medical Publishing. Given that most medical titles are now published by Elsevier or Wolters Kluwer, this book might escape notice during a casual stroll down publisher's row at the annual meeting. It is worth seeking out. The book is a gem, and we have made it part of the core curriculum for our dermatopathogy fellowship.The idea behind the series is to give the practicing pathologist an opportunity to “review cases” with a group of expert consultants. The case-based format works well as an educational model and makes for a nice “one-two punch” when paired with a traditional textbook format. Each case begins with clinical information and the reason for referral. This is followed by a description of the histologic paired with scanning and high powered photomicrographs. Each case concludes with a discussion of the key teaching points. The quality of the photomicrographs is excellent, and the text flows like an excellent Grand Rounds conference. For those of us who learn best in this setting, it is a real treat. As an added bonus, images are available online for downloading for educational purposes.The text focuses on melanocytic proliferations with a tumorigenic dermal component. These, of course, are the very lesions where the stakes are highest. If malignant, they have real potential to metastasize. If benign, the patient could suffer significant morbidity as a result of misdiagnosis as melanoma. The table of contents reads like a great day at the office: Atypical nevus vs Nevoid melanoma, Dysplastic nevus with mitoses vs Nevoid melanoma, Nevus with ancient change vs Tumorigenic melanoma, Atypical halo nevus with atypia vs Nevoid melanoma, Special site genital nevus vs Melanoma, Regressed halo nevus vs Regressed melanoma—and that's just the first chapter.The sections on Spitz tumors, deep penetrating nevi, combined nevi, and nevoid melanoma are particularly helpful. This book was obviously a labor of love and is well worth purchasing. It should be required reading for dermatopathology fellows and practicing dermatopathologists, but will also have wide appeal to general pathologists, dermatology and pathology residents, and practicing dermatologists who read slides. Tumorigenic melanocytic proliferations, by David Elder, is part of the Consultant Pathology series published by Demos Medical Publishing. Given that most medical titles are now published by Elsevier or Wolters Kluwer, this book might escape notice during a casual stroll down publisher's row at the annual meeting. It is worth seeking out. The book is a gem, and we have made it part of the core curriculum for our dermatopathogy fellowship. The idea behind the series is to give the practicing pathologist an opportunity to “review cases” with a group of expert consultants. The case-based format works well as an educational model and makes for a nice “one-two punch” when paired with a traditional textbook format. Each case begins with clinical information and the reason for referral. This is followed by a description of the histologic paired with scanning and high powered photomicrographs. Each case concludes with a discussion of the key teaching points. The quality of the photomicrographs is excellent, and the text flows like an excellent Grand Rounds conference. For those of us who learn best in this setting, it is a real treat. As an added bonus, images are available online for downloading for educational purposes. The text focuses on melanocytic proliferations with a tumorigenic dermal component. These, of course, are the very lesions where the stakes are highest. If malignant, they have real potential to metastasize. If benign, the patient could suffer significant morbidity as a result of misdiagnosis as melanoma. The table of contents reads like a great day at the office: Atypical nevus vs Nevoid melanoma, Dysplastic nevus with mitoses vs Nevoid melanoma, Nevus with ancient change vs Tumorigenic melanoma, Atypical halo nevus with atypia vs Nevoid melanoma, Special site genital nevus vs Melanoma, Regressed halo nevus vs Regressed melanoma—and that's just the first chapter. The sections on Spitz tumors, deep penetrating nevi, combined nevi, and nevoid melanoma are particularly helpful. This book was obviously a labor of love and is well worth purchasing. It should be required reading for dermatopathology fellows and practicing dermatopathologists, but will also have wide appeal to general pathologists, dermatology and pathology residents, and practicing dermatologists who read slides.