The torn cover and tattered pages of my own copy of the first edition of
this book attest to its enduring popularity, especially among students and
residents in pathology and orthopaedic surgery. The first edition, marketed as
an "atlas" with relatively little text, has now grown into a
mature book, although emphasis on the visual reminds us of its origin.
While most orthopaedic pathology books tend to focus on tumors,
Orthopaedic Pathology contains six major sections, only the last two
of which deal with tumors and tumor-like lesions. The other sections
illustrate normal bone morphology (including chapters that describe imaging
techniques and methods of examining resection specimens), skeletal injury and
repair, metabolic abnormalities, and arthritis.
Each chapter is very well illustrated with a variety of visual material,
including diagrams, radiographic images, gross and microscopic photographs,
and tables. The quality of the color photographs is excellent, and helpful
correlations between radiographic, gross, and microscopic images are seen
throughout the book.
Curiously absent from the text are citations to original literature.
Instead, an appendix at the end of the book lists "Further
Reading" sorted by subject. Indeed, some of the publications that have
been loosely referred to in the text are not included in this modified
bibliography, necessitating the use of other literature-searching tools to dig
deeper into areas of interest.
Orthopaedic Pathology does not include a discussion of
experimental studies, treatment, or areas of controversy. Although this
omission may cause the experienced specialist to interpret the scope of this
book as being too limited, such an authoritative approach allows the author to
focus on a concise but beautifully illustrated presentation of pathology and
differential diagnosis.
The relatively small number of orthopaedic oncologists and pathologists who
devote most of their time to the treatment of bone and soft-tissue tumors will
need to own other reference works, but Orthopaedic Pathology provides
an overview of tumors that will be very useful to most practicing surgeons and
pathologists. From the perspective of a medical student soon to start an
orthopaedic surgery residency, Orthopaedic Pathology provides an
excellent reference source that is useful for general background information
and as an accompaniment to the review of microscope slides, images, and case
studies. Indeed, for some orthopaedic surgery and pathology residency training
programs, this text might be the best single source for orthopaedic pathology
education.