Breast - Thomas J. Lawton MD

Breast pathology is arguably considered the most challenging and controversial area of diagnostic pathology. Many gradations of normal, pre-cancerous, and cancerous conditions are often indistinguishable, making a clear-cut diagnosis very difficult and often a cause for intense debate. This latest book in the Cambridge Illustrated Surgical Pathology series comprehensively covers all methods utilized by pathologists to accurately diagnose diseases affecting the breast. Malignant tumors are the predominant focus, but a full spectrum of inflammatory disorders and hyperplasias is also covered in detail, and the book uniquely shows the progression of disease states from incipient to advanced. Findings are diagnosed not only through the light microscope but also through genetic, molecular, and immunologic modalities; the text additionally includes the interpretation of cytologic specimens as an important diagnostic modality in breast pathology. The book is highly illustrated, with more than 300 color photomicrographs, and accompanied by a CD-ROM of all images in downloadable format.