Dermatopathology by E. Brehmer-Andersson. ISBN: 978-3-540-30245-2. Hbk. 272 pages. Price: €149.75. Springer-Verlag, 2006.
In the last decade or so, several very good dermatopathology handbooks have been published. Eva Brehmer-Andersson has brought her great experience to bear in writing this excellent book. It should be stated that, in spite of the title, this is not a complete handbook of dermatopathology. Substantial areas, such as skin tumour pathology and deposition diseases, are almost entirely missing. Instead, the author has selected topics that are of interest to her and of which she has particular experience that she wants to share. This is a valuable and sympathetic approach.
After some short general chapters on structure and cell and tissue response, the author has chosen to concentrate on certain difficult areas. The most extensively covered of these include vasculitis, infectious skin disorders, autoimmune dermatoses, vesicular eruptions and skin lesions due to drugs. There are also shorter chapters on both common and less common diseases. The former include eczema, psoriasis and lichen planus, while the latter include Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis and angiotropic lymphoma (the only tumour disease dealt with in the book). For most entities, examples in the form of short case reports are given, often illustrated with photomicrographs. Eva Brehmer-Andersson has obviously chosen certain aspects of dermatopathology for two reasons: some chapters appear to be written for more inexperienced pathologists, while others deal with problems in which the author has particular interest and experience. I particularly like the chapter dealing with the confusing field of vasculitis and the chapter on Borrelia manifestations; entities that often create diagnostic problems.
The book is very well illustrated in black and white. Although colour pictures would have been an improvement, the quality of the photographs is high. However, it is less understandable why the diskette included with the book also has illustrations in black and white. Here, I think the publisher should have been able to afford colour figures.
Dr Brehmer-Andersson states in the preface that the book is intended to serve as an introduction to dermatopathology for future pathologists and dermatologists. It may certainly be used in this way. However, I think that the book has its greatest value for those with experience and particular interest in dermatopathology who want to gain new and deeper understanding of those aspects that are discussed in more detail.
Per Westermark, MD, PhD, Professor of Pathology
Department of Genetics and Pathology
Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
