Customer Reviews

Molecular Genetic Pathology

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Easy to read font, with clear images arranged in sensible format. Uses an outline-based organization of data with information in bullet-point format, thus leading to somewhat to very dense information content. Overall, the text is very similar to the Quick Compendium series offered by the ASCP, although this appears to be tailored for MGP topics.

Pages have a glossy appearance, and images are well-sized and arranged. Has some details on commercial hardware and instrumentation, very basics of Hardy-Weinberg genetics, and less than 3 pages on Bayesian calculations for genetic counseling/risk assessment.

Overall, appears to cover the high-yield areas of MGP boards--but in dense outline format.

Two part arrangement, as taken from the preface: Part 1 - general principles, technology, methodology, microarrays, biomarkers, laser capture, flow cytometry, clinilca genomics, clinical proteomics, pharmacogenomics, FISH, karyotype for oncology, genetic inheritance, and population genetics and counseling; Part 2 - disease based information, including prenatal diagnosis, familial cancer syndromes, molecular testing of solid tumors, molecular path of CNS, molecular virology, bacteriology, mycology, and parisitology, molecular coagulopathies, hemoglobinopathies, diagnostics of lymphoid malignancies, myeloid leukemias, HLA system and transfusion medicine, molecular forensic path (STR analysis), gene therapy, ethical and legal issues in molecular testing, quality assurance and lab inspection

A very good book, considering price and structured information content.

The chapters on hemepath, inherited tumors, and solid tumors are good, as is the chapter on FISH and convential cytogenetics. The book has numerous tables that are helpful for review. The chapter on coagulation and hemoglobinopathies glosses over many topics and lacks suffient detail (ie, no reasonable discussion of VWD). Many of the remaining chapters are too general or vague to be of significant utility or value, for example the chapter on priniciples of cytogenetics is both poorly written and lacks adequate detail, ie, fails to provide list of genes underlying specific chromosomal abberations (eg, Prader-Willi) which is necessary for exam preparation. Unfortunately, the book is loaded with typographical and factual errors. To fix these problems, the authors need to be pay much more attention to details- its indefensible to have so many typo's and statements that are factually incorrect (offhand, TFE3 not TEF3, NF-1 is on 17q11 not 2p22; BRCA1 is on 17q21 not 17p12, and so on and so on). The content of the book needs to be refocused to include more pathology and disease at the expense of entire chapters devoted to laser capture microscopy, TMA, etc. The field needs a good well written review book, eg Essentials of Anatomical Pathology by the same author. Hopefully, the editors will acknowledge the weakness of this text and improve both the quality and scope.