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Wintrobe's clinical hematology, Vol. 1 and 2. G. Richard Lee, John Foerster, John Lukens, Frixos...
1
HEMATOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY Hematol. Oncol. 17: 84 (1999) BOOK REVIEW W’ C H, Vol. 1 2. G. Richard Lee, John Foerster, John Lukens, Frixos Paraskevas, John P. Greer and George M. Rodgers (Eds). Williams & Wilkins. 1998. Price: £120.00. ISBN: 0 683 18242 0 The 10th edition of this classic North American textbook of clinical hematology encompasses con- tributions from 85 authors. Sensibly it is presented in two Volumes and at 2800 pages it probably represents the limit of information that can be presented in a textbook format. The first 900 pages are devoted to general descriptions of labo- ratory hematology and the normal function of blood cells and the hemostatic process. There are excellent chapters on clinical flow cytometry and cluster of differentiation (CD) terminology. As one would expect, cytogenetics and molecular hematology are also described in depth. The func- tion of the immune system is also covered in considerable detail. There are excellent general reviews of immunotherapy and gene therapeutic approaches, the chapter on Hemopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation is, however, rather brief for a textbook of this size. Specific chapters follow on all the major groups of hematological malignancies. The reviews are generally thorough and extremely well referenced. However, one weakness of multi-author textbooks of this size is that recent advances have inevitably been omitted with referencing ceasing in 1996. Thus, the chapter on Hodgkin’s disease does not discuss the use of the Stanford V approach in the treatment of advanced Hodgkin’s disease. In non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, significant recent advances, including the use of monoclonal anti- CD20 antibodies for therapy of low grade disease are also missing. In a description of unrelated donor transplantation for chronic myeloid leuke- mia, recent evidence describing the importance of donor/recipient molecular matching for Class I and Class II MHC loci is not covered in detail. In the chapter on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, there is only a very brief discussion on the signifi- cance of minimal residual disease detection, again, recent important evidence from the BFM group is not described. Other reservations include the rather patchy quality of the illustrations and diagrams. Many of the photomicrographs are in black and white and not always easy to interpret. Colour plates of clinical pictures, cell morphology and radiology are included at the front of each volume. Again, however, the quality is variable and not generally of the standard one would expect in 1999. For ease of reference, it would be preferable for colour plates to be included in the appropriate chapters but this may add to the cost of the textbook overall. Generally, Wintrobe’s represents a comprehen- sive review of haematology and at £120·00 is extremely good value. One does, however, wonder whether there will continue to be a future for such large speciality textbooks. It would seem unlikely that editions could be updated more than twice in any decade which when added to the inevitable delay between writing and publishing, means that these books soon become out of date. With the birth of speciality review journals and a mush- rooming of information available on the Internet, the future of Wintrobe’s and its major competi- tors may be under serious threat. As a complete and convenient source of information, however, Wintrobe’s deserves a place on the bookshelves of most practising hemato-oncologists. The final chapters deal with normal blood and bone marrow parameters in humans and also a chapter on comparative haematology. How quickly could you find a reference range for a full blood count on a Mongolian gerbil from the Internet? Wintrobe’s provides an answer on page 2750! M P Department of Haematology & Bone Marrow Transplantation, Royal Free Hospital, London, U.K. CCC 0278–0232/99/020084–01$17.50 Copyright ? 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Transcript of Wintrobe's clinical hematology, Vol. 1 and 2. G. Richard Lee, John Foerster, John Lukens, Frixos...
HEMATOLOGICAL ONCOLOGYHematol. Oncol. 17: 84 (1999)
CCC 0278–0232/99/020084–01Copyright ? 1999 John Wile
BOOK REVIEW
W’ C H, Vol. 1 2.G. Richard Lee, John Foerster, John Lukens,Frixos Paraskevas, John P. Greer and George M.Rodgers (Eds). Williams & Wilkins. 1998. Price:£120.00. ISBN: 0 683 18242 0
The 10th edition of this classic North Americantextbook of clinical hematology encompasses con-tributions from 85 authors. Sensibly it is presentedin two Volumes and at 2800 pages it probablyrepresents the limit of information that can bepresented in a textbook format. The first 900pages are devoted to general descriptions of labo-ratory hematology and the normal function ofblood cells and the hemostatic process. There areexcellent chapters on clinical flow cytometry andcluster of differentiation (CD) terminology. Asone would expect, cytogenetics and molecularhematology are also described in depth. The func-tion of the immune system is also covered inconsiderable detail. There are excellent generalreviews of immunotherapy and gene therapeuticapproaches, the chapter on Hemopoietic StemCell Transplantation is, however, rather brief fora textbook of this size.
Specific chapters follow on all the major groupsof hematological malignancies. The reviews aregenerally thorough and extremely well referenced.However, one weakness of multi-author textbooksof this size is that recent advances have inevitablybeen omitted with referencing ceasing in 1996.Thus, the chapter on Hodgkin’s disease does notdiscuss the use of the Stanford V approach inthe treatment of advanced Hodgkin’s disease. Innon-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, significant recentadvances, including the use of monoclonal anti-CD20 antibodies for therapy of low grade diseaseare also missing. In a description of unrelateddonor transplantation for chronic myeloid leuke-mia, recent evidence describing the importance ofdonor/recipient molecular matching for Class Iand Class II MHC loci is not covered in detail. Inthe chapter on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia,there is only a very brief discussion on the signifi-
$17.50y & Sons, Ltd.
cance of minimal residual disease detection, again,recent important evidence from the BFM group isnot described.
Other reservations include the rather patchyquality of the illustrations and diagrams. Many ofthe photomicrographs are in black and white andnot always easy to interpret. Colour plates ofclinical pictures, cell morphology and radiologyare included at the front of each volume. Again,however, the quality is variable and not generallyof the standard one would expect in 1999. Forease of reference, it would be preferable for colourplates to be included in the appropriate chaptersbut this may add to the cost of the textbookoverall.
Generally, Wintrobe’s represents a comprehen-sive review of haematology and at £120·00 isextremely good value. One does, however, wonderwhether there will continue to be a future for suchlarge speciality textbooks. It would seem unlikelythat editions could be updated more than twice inany decade which when added to the inevitabledelay between writing and publishing, means thatthese books soon become out of date. With thebirth of speciality review journals and a mush-rooming of information available on the Internet,the future of Wintrobe’s and its major competi-tors may be under serious threat. As a completeand convenient source of information, however,Wintrobe’s deserves a place on the bookshelves ofmost practising hemato-oncologists.
The final chapters deal with normal blood andbone marrow parameters in humans and also achapter on comparative haematology. Howquickly could you find a reference range for a fullblood count on a Mongolian gerbil from theInternet? Wintrobe’s provides an answer on page2750!
M PDepartment of Haematology & Bone Marrow
Transplantation, Royal Free Hospital,London,
U.K.
