Field of medicine: Hematology and oncology.

Format: Hardcover book.

Audience: Generalists and hematologist-oncologists.

Purpose: To provide a fully integrated presentation of the lymphomas.

Content: This book includes an introduction to the basic biology underlying the lymphoproliferative disorders, beginning with normal and abnormal lymphopoiesis and the molecular pathogenesis of lymphoid malignancies. It also includes an introduction to basic molecular biology and immunology for the uninitiated or for those looking for the background needed for an understanding of newer advances. The authors describe the evolution of the present classification systems and the shortcomings of earlier ones. Although the chapter on histopathology is arranged according to the Revised European-American Lymphoma classification, the Working Formulation and Kiel classifications are also provided. Newer pathologic and clinical entities are described, and individual chapters for each general category review clinical features and management. Separate chapters discuss the principles of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, and biologic therapies. One unique aspect of the book is a chapter on disorders that may mimic or predate lymphoma.

Highlights: The latest advances in the biology and pathogenesis of the malignant lymphomas are well integrated with the clinical aspects of these disorders. There are excellent schematics of molecular pathways and photographs of pathologic specimens.

Limitations: Several chapters have too few illustrations or tables. Some chapters have many recent references; others have only a few.

Context: No comparable books that include both the non-Hodgkin lymphomas and Hodgkin disease have been published in the past 5 years. Magrath's The Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas, 2nd edition (Oxford Univ Pr, 1997), is more than 1000 pages long and stands alone as a reference textbook, but it is not as readable as this book.

Reviewer: Jane N. Winter, MD, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois.