Microscopic Haematology
Microscopic Haematology: A Practical Guide for the Laboratory
Author(s): Gillian Rozenberg
Harwood Academic Publishers: Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 1997, 150 pages, 48 USD, softbound.
This small, soft-cover book offers first rate photography and essential concepts for students of hematology. The text is sparse and concise and leaves the leaves the details to other textbooks. The focus is clearly on the photomicrographs which are uniformly excellent. Unlike many hematology atlases, the color is almost always accurate and the annoying green, yellow or orange backgrounds, normally the result of poor color correction, are not found here. One photomicroscopist, using one properly illuminated microscope, took the majority of the photos resulting in a the uniformity that is both pleasing and technically superior. These photos which do show significant color shifts are primarily limited to the bone marrow trephine biopsies.
The photomicrographs are grouped three to a page and each group is accompanied by brief explanatory text. There are no arrows to clutter the illustrations, even though a few students will undoubtedly have difficulty identifying some of the cells when mixed with other related ones. The fact that the text is directly adjacent to the photo is important--the reader does not have to jump back and forth between multiple pictures linked to one long explanatory text paragraph that appears elsewhere.
Although the book is only 150 pages in length, it covers quite a broad range of blood disorders. It is divided into three sections: Erythrocytes, Leukocytes and Platelets, and Blood Parasites. The first two sections are introduced by normal hematopoietic morphology. An extensive scope of abnormalities follows. Each section begins with a short discussion of cell types and pertinent diseases. The non-nucleated red cell photos are very well done. The section on parasites is the briefest and only malaria, microfilaria, and trypanosomes are illustrated.
The text is very general and a few minor inaccuracies or over generalizations have intruded because of the emphasis on brevity. The discussion of the FAB classification is a case in point. The examples of giant platelets are incorrect; most of the photomicrographs show platelets that are clearly smaller than red cells, even though labeled as giant. The descriptions and some of the photographs of proerythroblasts and basophilic erythroblasts are not entirely correct. The stated magnifications are not accurate; using a 100x lens and 10x oculars does not automatically create photos that are 1000x in size. One low power magnification is clearly not the stated 1000x. I found only one typographical error. These inaccuracies, however, are minor quibbles in an overall superior effort.
As stated by the author in the preface, "This atlas is designed to guide the student through the microscopic features of blood cells in health and disease and should be placed near the microscope where it will be continuously accessible." It handles this supportive role quite capably and I recommend it to teachers and students of hematology alike.
Reviewed for Bloodline by:
Eric F. Glassy, MD
Director of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Little Company of Mary Hospital
Torrance, California, USA
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