Abstract
During the past decade, it has been increasingly difficult for pathologists to keep abreast of major advances in the various fields of pathology. Doctors Carone and Conn, assisted by 15 associate editors, have continued to review the medical literature in an exemplary manner and to provide concise, well-written summaries of significant contributions to the literature of pathology. For the period June 1977 to May 1978, nearly 250 articles have been condensed from a comprehensive survey of both American and foreign medical literature. The contents of the 1979 Year Book are well organized, and there are subject and author indexes. The section of anatomic pathology is surveyed by organ system, while the section on clinical pathology includes the special fields of chemical pathology, microbiology, diagnostic immunology, blood banking, hematology, histocompatibility testing, and laboratory data processing. Selected articles are illustrated with diagrams, charts, tables, photomicrographs, or electron micrographs, which are not only useful but also of reasonably good quality. Forensic pathologists, however, should not depend upon this book for a review of the forensic science literature. There are only two synopses in the section on forensic pathology. Two previous features of the Year Book have been continued: the educational, editorial comments and the current literature quiz. The new section on histocoinpatibility testing reflects the recent scientific advancements in this field and its applications to transplantation, transfusion, and the clinical diagnosis of selected diseases. The expansion of the editorial staff to 15 associate editors reflects the difficulties we all have in coping with the increased number of articles on pathology published annually. For the future, the editors should consider a section on therapeutic drug monitoring, as well as a list of the journals that have been surveyed. The 1979 Year Book is a concise, understandable survey of the medical literature, which should be useful to resident pathologists and pathologists as well as to other scientists working in the fields of pathology and laboratory medicine.