Customer Reviews

Blaustein's Pathology of the Female Genital Tract (Kurman, Blaustein's Pathology of the Female Genital Tract)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The sixth edition of this text is a marked improvement over the last edition. While the text of the last edition was also very well-written, it was unfortunately plagued by black and white photographs, which made it unpopular with residents who are fond of glossy colorful pictures.

The new Blaustein's compensates for the inadequacies of the previous edition in all aspects. The images are impeccable, appropriately sized, perfectly color-balanced, and numerous. There is color on almost every page. The figures are easily referenced in the text. The text itself is completely up-to-date, and, written as expected by some of the most illustrious figures in the field of gynecologic pathology (Kurman, Ronnett, and Young, to name a few). As with most multi-authored textbooks, some chapters are better written than others; this is generally author-dependent. The quality of the binding and paper is superb.

A few parting thoughts:

I wish there were more tables and possibly algorithmic flow charts (particularly useful when dealing with differential diagnoses). Although I really dislike the particular font size of the text, I recognize this is a matter of taste. Finally, there is a trend these days towards including a CD-rom or having a code linked to online access to the text and images. While these might increase the price, this is something worth considering the next time.

Overall, an outstanding job!

A ginecopathology book is a must for everybody as any pathologist sees those kind of specimens every day; during my residency I frecuently used this book and for me, it has any necessary information. The only "contra" of the old edition was the photoes, all black and white. I waited to purchase the new edition and when it came, I was pleasantly surprised that now the book has colours, the photoes as well. The price is not so high for this volume, it's another "plus".

This review is mainly about the layout and the font, not the content, of the book, as Blaustein has long held a place in many general and gynecologic pathologists' desks.

The last edition Blaustein's Pathology of the Female Genital Tract (5th Edition) adhered to black and white photos, which had been specifically defended in the Preface of that edition. Now with competitors like Robboy's book Robboy's Pathology of the Female Reproductive Tract: Expert Consult: Online and Print (Expert Consult Title: Online + Print) and Crum's Diagnostic Gynecologic and Obstetric Pathology: Expert Consult - Online and Print which have been in full color ever since their first editions, Blaustein probably has no option but to shift to color, which is pretty well-done in the 6th edition.

The hyper-link-style bullets pointing to figures, tables and sometimes other sections are also a nice feature. Another plus is Blaustein is less expensive than the other two texts.

However, the layout and fonts are not very attractive. The book/paper size shrank from 11.1 x 8.9 x 2.4 (last edition) to 10.5 x 8 x 2.3 inches, making it one size smaller than Robboy and Crum (and often smaller photos). The font is, IMHO, too small and very unattractive (as pointed out in a previous review), yet the line space is a little too much. Could have a better design. I find the layout and fonts of the 5th edition more pleasing, but this may only be a matter of personal preference.