Leukemia Diagnosis, 2nd Edition

Leukemia Diagnosis, 2nd Edition
Edited by Barbara J. Bain
Blackwell Science, Oxford, UK, 1999; 200 pages.

There are more laboratorians than hematologists in the world. Laboratorians are pathologists, laboratory physicians, clinical scientists, medical technologists, and family physicians with laboratory facilities.

Bain's book on leukemia is an hematology textbook and atlas; surely much more than an atlas. However, it works well for laboratorians, or for hematology trainees, perhaps moreso than for fully developed hematologists. Ninety percent of hematology problems in the clinical laboratory are leukemia diagnosis, leukemia differential diagnosis, leukemia follow up. Bain's book, like other products of this great teacher, is intended to cope with laboratory problems. The title, therefore, perhaps is not very accurate: it should be "Leukemia Laboratory Diagnosis."

The aim of the textbook is perfectly reached. The laboratorians wish to recognize the cells, and those are described well, beginning from the blast cell definition. The laboratorians want to classify the patients, and FAB classification is well described. But he/she wants also to be critical, to appreciate the subtle differencies about opinions, and so the problems with the FAB classification of leukemia are fully reported, with their references. The morphologic classifications alternatives to FAB are even described. The laboratorians move from automated full blood counts. Nobody is thinking to classify leukemias by automated scattergrams, however everyone would like to understand the meaning of peripheral blood scattergram differences. It is explained.

Clinical laboratory personnel wish to understand the cytochemical reactions and immunophenotyping, both static and flow. They need a guide to buy immunological reagents. Barbara Bain collects all the data in well written, plain text and clear tables. Few laboratorians do cytogenetic analysis of leukemia. However, all are curious of knowing as the cytogenetic may help the classification and the treatment of the patients.

In this book, the chromosome alterations are presented along with morphological and cytochemical features of each clinical case. The Mielodisplastiche syndromes are difficult and deceptive diagnoses. Peripheral blood and blood marrow, both in the hand of the laboratorians, make the diagnosis, not clinician observations.

The descriptive text, the tables and the pictures (even scattergrams) build the clearest description of MDS diagnosis I have ever seen. Prognosis data and FAB criticism complete both the chapter and the professional competence in this matter. Finally, chronic pathologies are described with cytological and cytochemical features, microscopical signs of complications (hemolytic anemia, for instance) and scattergrams.

In conclusion, Bain's book is a wonderful concentrate of professionalism in laboratory hematology that resolves almost all problems related to leukemia diagnosis and follow up. Not a textbook, nor an atlas, it is much more, a true companion of daily work.

Reviewed for Bloodline by:
Marco Pradella, MD
Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology Laboratory
Civil Hospital
Castelfranco veneto, TV, Italy

Copyright 1995-2010 - Carden Jennings Publishing Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. The material available at this site is for educational purposes only and is NOT intended for any diagnostic, clinically related, or other purpose. Carden Jennings Publishing Co., Ltd., assumes no responsibility for any use or misuse of this material and makes no warranty or representation of any kind with respect to the material available at this site.

Featured Resources Multiple Myeloma: A Practical Guide to Current Management BloodLine Image Atlas