Cytopathology of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors
Author: Lester J. Layfield

Other Contributors:Tina Fanning, Abbruzzese, Brew, Davies, Jumar, Lynch, Olanow, Pemberton, Spranger, Udwadia, Bhugra, W. Holzgreve, D.A. Nyberg, Parkin, Parthenon, Shankie, Trobe, Mark Freed, Pamela Mason, Mehta
Spiral-bound: 280 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.75 x 10.00 x 7.25
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1st edition (July 15, 2002) ISBN: 019513236X

Reviewed by Dr. Dilip Ramrakhiani,MD.
Division of Cytopathology, RK Birla Cancer Centre,SMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan,India.

The role of fine-needle aspiration in the diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal lesions is slowly gaining acceptance.The separation of soft tissue neoplasms into low and high-grade are sufficient for current therapeutic protocols. Dr. Layfields text cum atlas provides the reader with an encyclopedic compilation of the cytologic features of both common and rare musculoskeletal lesions. He accomplishes this task by organizing the contents of each lesion into clinical and gross findings, histology, cytology, diagnostic problems, and a bulleted summary of key features. The histocytologic correlation provided shall be appreciated, particularly by those who obtain a cell block or mini-core biopsy at the time of FNA. The writing is clear, concise & well organized. Finally, this essentially descriptive book is highlighted with innumerable comments that reflect the diagnostic experience of the author, which should be most helpful to the reader.

This atlas book is written in 268 pages with more than 700 references and contains 370 Romanowsky- and H&Estained photomicrographs of excellent quality that appropriately illustrate the text contents. The text is arranged in a conventional and highly effective manner covering normal, reactive, benign, and malignant lesions of fibrous, fibrohistiocytic, adipose, smooth and striated muscle, nerve, vascular, and miscellaneous tissue origin grouped in the first 12 of 20 chapters. Of particular interest is the introductory chapter that contains tables helpful for the evaluation of various soft tissue cell types and algorithms for the workup of soft tissue and bone lesions.

The last eight chapters are devoted to bone lesions, cartilaginous tumors, and metastatic deposits. This section on skeletal lesions is organized along predominant cell type seen in smears. This approach facilitates grouping of lesions into diagnostically useful categories, allowing the pathologist faced with an unfamiliar lesion to rapidly access the portion of the text most useful for differential diagnosis.

It is expected that Cytopathology of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors will serve to widen the usage of the FNA technique which can: substantially decrease patient morbidity; lessen the complications that arise due to other biopsy techniques; and shorten the time as well as expense required for diagnosis. I think this is a great book for all those involved in Surgical Pathology practice & a must have for the Cytopathologists in particular.