310 Book reviews
tentionally, on oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes Ho¡brand/Pettit classics. But consider, the reviewer gets
in the development of tumours was demonstrated by
oncogenes being summarised in just over one page, com-
pared to nearly ¢ve pages for tumour suppressor genes
and their mechanism of action. Surprisingly, there is no
section devoted to the role of apoptotic genes in the onset
and maintenance of tumourogenesis. Similarly, genetic
predisposition, ethical issues and genetic counselling are
covered in a few pages each. Perhaps disappointingly, no
indication of further reading on these issues was made;
these pointers would have strengthened the book.
The real value of the book lies in sections 2 and 3. A
list of human cancers by their site of origin gives informa-
tion on those tumours that arise within that tissue. For
each tumour type, information on the clinical incidence,
age distribution and molecular genetic abnormalities are
listed. This information is well referenced and succinctly
summarised in under one and a half pages. For some
tumours, incidence curves are presented, as is some inter-
esting data on the cumulative risk for the development of
cancers ^ for example, colorectal and breast ^ in people
with ¢rst degree relatives with those cancers. It is perhaps
this type of information that the readers will be interested
in as a ¢rst source of reference.
The third section deals with approximately 50 of the
inherited cancer predisposing syndromes. All types of
inherited cancers are dealt with in this section from
Ataxia telangiectasia, covered in two pages, to Klostman's
syndrome summarised in four lines. But the apparent
brevity of the coverage of the tumours in section 2 and 3
should not mean that this volume should be dismissed
lightly. Indeed, it is one of its strengths; information is
given in a clear manner with reference links to the origi-
nal papers.
Whilst this book will not make the reader an expert on
any particular tumour type, it gives an entry level basis
for further reading. I would imagine that this volume
would become an invaluable addition to the bookshelves
of many junior, and perhaps even some senior, clinicians
and research scientists involved in genetics or oncology.
K. MILLS
Color Atlas of Clinical Hematology
Edited by A.V. Ho¡brand & J.E. Pettit. Mosby, 2000, ISBN:
0723431159. pp. 368, h/b. »129
At ¢rst it might seem strange for a nonclinician to
o¡er a review of this new millennial edition of one of the
to keep the book and I am not entirely sel£ess in these
matters. Put it another way, I don't want to let this volume
go.
As with previous editions this is a marvel of organiza-
tion and, in particular, of illustration ^ not necessarily of
the photomicroscopy which is probably bettered in other
volumes, but in the diagrams illustrating causes, condi-
tions and interactions. The tabular presentation of diag-
nostic and other criteria only gets more comprehensive
with each edition. There seems no limit to the authors', or
perhaps their illustrators', ability to reduce a plethora of
isolated factlets into a single coherent diagram. This is
even more impressive when the underlying opinions are
probably wrong. Even when the elements are intrinsically
contradictory they can squeeze a sensible and believable
synthesis out of apparent chaos.
Above all this latest volume charts the progress of hae-
matology away from the relative simplicities of the ¢rst
volume in the 1980s and it will continue to have an in£u-
ence well into the next millennium. This is because it is
such a good source of teaching material. Surely no under-
graduate teacher is going to miss the opportunity of
directing their students towards this comprehensive,
explicit and, above all else, pleasing book.
I. CAVILL
Haematology at a Glance
Edited by A. Mehta & V. Ho¡brand, Blackwell Science,
Oxford, 2000. ISBN 0632047933, 122pp. p/b. »13.95.
This colourful book for medical students follows a simi-
lar format to the 1997 `Haematology ^ an illustrated col-
our text' by Howard and Hamilton. Both aim to present
material to students in an attractive and concise manner
in order to appeal to today's fact-overloaded student.
The book is divided into 39 brief chapters, each no
more than four pages long. The photographic quality is
excellent. The diagrams are good too, though I found that
the rather fancy font used for labelling is actually rather
unclear and slightly irritating after a while. After sections
on the physiology of stem cells, each di¡erentiated blood
cell is dealt with colourfully, although lymphocytes are
given rather a short section which may not fully explain
things to the level that some students need. The clinical
and laboratory overview is excellent and the explanation
of red cell sizes and shapes is something I wish I had seen
years ago!
# 2000 Blackwell Science Ltd., Clin. Lab. Haem., 22, 309^311