Blackwell Science, LtdOxford, UKTRFTransfusion0041-11322003 American Association of Blood BanksNovember 20034311Book ReviewBOOK REVIEWBOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEWS November 20034311Book ReviewBOOK REVIEWSBOOK REVIEWS
PEDIATRIC HEMATOPATHOLOGY Robert D. Collins and Steven H. Swerdlow. New York, Churchill Livingstone, 2001. 436 pages. Hardcover. Price: US$179. ISBN: 0-443-07566-2. Pediatric hematopathology is a challenging field because of complex disease presentations, relatively low incidences of a variety of diseases, and, thus, our limited experience with them. The available literature in this area is less abundant compared to that in adult hematopathology. To date, the histopathologic features of the hematologic diseases in children have usually been included in books that otherwise primarily focused on adult hematopathology or in books dedicated to pediatric pathology. As a hematopathologist, I was delighted to see the publication of Pediatric Hematopathology, the first textbook that is dedicated specifically to hematopathology as encountered in the pediatric population. The book is organized into 22 chapters: the first two chapters are devoted to status of pediatric hematopathology and general approach to diagnostic hematopathology; the remaining chapters are divided either by disease topics such as leukemias, myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic disorders, lymphomas, histiocytosis, and immunodeficiency disorders, or by organ systems including thymus gland, spleen, skin, lung, and gastrointestinal tract and liver. There are 19 contributors, all with expertise in their respective fields. The format of each chapter varies slightly, but each provides relevant clinical information with an emphasis on diagnostic approach and criteria. The essential information in the various sections is summarized into tables and figures. Numerous color illustrations are used throughout the book. Photomicrographs of blood, marrow, lymph node, and soft tissue are of exceptional quality and all are accompanied by detailed descriptions. Each chapter is extensively referenced, thus providing readers with useful source of information. All chapters are outstanding in both clarity and comprehensiveness. Especially noteworthy is the chapter on neonatal hematopathology, which deals with both common and uncommon blood cell disorders that may present at birth or during the first weeks of life. The commonly encountered blood abnormalities in neonates, such as neonatal anemia, neonatal polycythemia, neutrophilia and neutropenia, and lymphocytosis, are discussed with differential diagnostic considerations. There are also discussions of uncommon diseases such as congenital leukemia and hematologic abnormalities in neonates with Down’s syndrome. Many of the concepts are reinforced with tables that are reader friendly. The normal hematologic variables of term and preterm neonates are also provided. 1644
TRANSFUSION
Volume 43, November 2003
Certain inherited diseases are unique or far more common in children than adults. The chapter on immunodeficiency disorders details the diseases in primary immunodeficiency according to the 1995 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of primary and secondary immunodeficiencies, but equivalent terms from prior various classification systems are also mentioned in the text. Each disease is presented in an organized manner with subheadings for definition, clinical features, histopathologic features, laboratory findings and diagnosis, and pathogenesis. The strengths of this chapter include introduction of recent developments in the field, newer diagnostic techniques, and the relationship between immunodeficiency and neoplasm. The chapters on lymphomas are relatively brief. However, the descriptions of several lymphomas that are more frequently seen in pediatric patients, such as Burkitt lymphoma and Hodgkin’s diseases, are detailed. Although the epidemiology of lymphomas in children is quite different from that in adults, the basic approach to diagnosis in both populations is similar. Thus, any one of the leading textbooks in lymph node pathology would complement this text if readers need more specific information. I found Pediatric Hematopathology a practical resource for pathologists who may encounter hematologic diseases in children in the course of their daily practice. In addition, the book has broader applications and should also be of value to colleagues in transfusion medicine, clinical hematology, as well as students and technical staff in hematology laboratories who want to expand their knowledge base and to seek a complete reference book in pediatric hematopathology. Yin Xu, MD, PhD Department of Pathology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX e-mail:
[email protected] November 20034311Book ReviewBOOK REVIEWSBOOK REVIEWS
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE OF TRANSFUSION MEDICINE Eleftherios C. Vamvakas. Bethesda, American Association of Blood Banks Press, 2001. 360 pages. Hardcover. Price: AABB members, US$135; nonmembers, US$155. ISBN: 38055-7404-5. In recent years, controversial issues have affected the practice of transfusion medicine. Many of these issues have been difficult to resolve for a variety of reasons. In Evidence-Based Practice of Transfusion Medicine, a number of these issues are analyzed using an evidence-based approach.
BOOK REVIEWS
The first three chapters provide the reader with sufficient background in statistical analysis to understand how to critically evaluate clinical research. The author does not assume any specialized knowledge of statistics or mathematics, and this work should be understandable for anyone working in the field of transfusion medicine. These first few chapters provide a cogent explanation of incidence, prevalence, various measures of the association between variables, hypothesis testing, statistical estimation, Bayers’ theorem, and ROC analysis. The theories are illustrated with many examples taken from the transfusion medicine literature. There is a detailed discussion of bias, confounding variables, and the difference between associations and causal relationships. In Chapters 4 through 6, the author applies evidencebased methodology to many of the controversies surrounding CJD, new variant CJD, HCV lookback, and emerging transfusion-transmitted agents. The incidence– window period model is reviewed in a complete, but not intimidating, fashion. There are also excellent sections on the epidemiology of blood transfusion and methods of forecasting future demand for blood, and data on long-term survival after blood transfusion are provided. Much of this information and methodology is not readily found in standard texts and review articles. This book makes easily available a significant amount of information that is otherwise difficult to obtain and understand. Remaining chapters provide short explanations of meta-analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, decision analysis, and outcomes research. These explanations are followed by a discussion of the use of meta-analysis to evaluate the administration of rHuEPO in treating the anemia of prematurity, of the use of decision analysis to study preoperative autologous blood donation, and of the use of outcomes research to analyze the effect of RBC transfusion on postoperative length of stay in the hospital. References are quite current, with several of them having been published in the same year as the book. The references for basic methodology of epidemiology, statistics, meta-analysis, and decision analysis are those that would be accessible to the average blood banker. Although the book’s primary focus is to educate the blood bank community in the principles of evidence-based medicine, the numerous examples from transfusion medicine make this book an excellent review of many of the controversies facing blood bankers today. In summary, Evidence-Based Practice of Transfusion Medicine is an excellent book that belongs on the shelf of any blood banker interested in analyzing the blood banking literature from a critical, scientific viewpoint. This book will be an invaluable source of information and insight for those active in academic transfusion medicine research; for those involved in clinical transfusion medi-
cine practice; and for pathology residents, blood bank fellows, and medical technologists. Michael H. Kanter, MD Southern California Permanente Medical Group Pasadena, CA e-mail:
[email protected] November 20034311Book ReviewBOOK REVIEWSBOOK REVIEWS
HANDBOOK OF TRANSFUSION MEDICINE Christopher D. Hillyer, Krista L. Hillyer, Frank J. Strohl, Leigh C. Jefferies, and Leslie E. Silberstein, eds. San Diego, Academic Press, 2001. Price: $79.95. ISBN: 0-12-348775-7. The Handbook of Transfusion Medicine is a concise, yet complete review of transfusion medicine. Its straightforward organization and style make it easy to comprehend and use. Residents, technologists, and even clinical practitioners will be able get a basic understanding of each topic efficiently. What sets this text apart from similar books of its type, though, is its inclusion of more timely topics, such as hematopoietic stem cells, diseases such as vCJD, and a full chapter devoted to bacterial contamination of blood products. The book is divided into 10 sections: Blood Collection, Testing, and Processing; Blood Components; Red Blood Cell Antigens and Antibodies; Specialized Component Processing or Testing; Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Related Cellular Products; Specialized Transfusion Situations; Transfusion Reactions; Infectious Complications of Transfusion; Therapeutic Apheresis; Consent, Quality, and Related Issues. Each section is further divided into specific chapters with a manageable list of references. One section that was particularly useful was the section entitled, “Specialized Transfusion Situations.” The specific chapter titles are: Approach to Acute Bleeding and Massive Transfusion; Evaluation of the Bleeding Patient; Approach to the Platelet Refractory Patient; Approach to Transfusion in Obstetrics, Maternal and Fetal Considerations; Transfusion Management of Infants and Children; Approach to Immunocompromised Patient. This section was notable for the ease of finding pertinent information. Instead of wading through descriptions of various scientific studies, you can quickly ascertain the bottom line and major concepts. The chapter that discusses platelet refractoriness had some very useful flow charts for assessing decreased responsiveness to transfusion as well selecting the best product. I can see myself incorporating these into resident teaching material. There are a few different books currently available that summarize the body of current transfusion medicine knowledge; The Handbook of Transfusion Medicine is another alternative for people looking for a solid, straightforward comprehensive text. Although the transfusion Volume 43, November 2003
TRANSFUSION
1645
BOOK REVIEWS
medicine expert may not use this as a primary source of information, it will nonetheless be a useful teaching resource. Also, because its style and organization are different from other review texts, it provides another choice for students and teachers in transfusion medicine.
1646
TRANSFUSION
Volume 43, November 2003
Susan D. Roseff, MD Department of Pathology Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA e-mail:
[email protected]
