Cytopathology of the Uterus. 2nd ed.

Abstract

Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A. The second edition of Cytopathology of the Uterus is a superbly illustrated and comprehensive textbook of gynecologic cytopathology. This edition, written for both students and practitioners of cytology, contains excellent chapters ranging from the historic perspective of this discipline to the most current technological methodologies. The many photomicrographs are large, are of outstanding quality, and are clearly annotated. The text clearly explains the cervical–vaginal cytologic nomenclature currently in use as well as the Papanicolaou classification cited by many established practitioners. The chapter on benign morphologic changes, a troublesome area for all who practice cytology, is especially well illustrated. Of definite practical value are the chapters dealing with troublesome artifacts and staining techniques. The authors do an outstanding job providing a very readable and well-referenced summary entitled “The Human Papillomaviruses and Cancer of the Uterine Cervix,” in which they address everything from the historic background of genital warts to human papillomavirus vaccines. A chapter contributed by Drs. Céline Bouchard and Michel Fortier provides excellent colposcopically obtained photos as well as a concise summary of colposcopic terminology. This text also addresses the theoretical and procedural aspects of immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, dot blot hybridization, and polymerase chain reaction. The glossary is especially good for cytotechnology students. All chapters are well referenced. The book does not address at all the issues that surround the fluid-based pap smear—a topic, although broad, that is perhaps best described in a separate text. Cytopathology of the Uterus should be considered an integral part of any cytology laboratory's reference literature and is particularly appropriate in a teaching setting.