Atlas of Tumor Pathology: Tumors of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract and Ear.

Mills SE, Gaffey MJ, Frierson HF. ($95.00.) Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 2000. ISBN 1 881 04157 3.

The upper aerodigestive tract comprises the ear, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. The 26th fascicle in the third series of the atlas of tumor pathology, which is published by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, forms a reliable guide when facing the diagnostic challenges raised by diseases in these areas. The colleagues Mills, Gaffey, and Frierson, all well known for their expertise in the area of head and neck pathology, have been successful in creating a book that goes into the required details when discussing the diseases that are specific for the upper aerodigestive tract. The growth in knowledge and proliferation of diagnostic entities associated with the upper aerodigestive tract are reflected in the fact that the current fascicle counts 455 pages, whereas the head and neck fascicle from the previous series had 343. Another difference to the previous edition is the use of colour illustrations, which greatly enhances the quality of the book.

Of course, there are some issues on which there may be disagreement with the authors. The use of the term transitional carcinoma as a synonym for undifferentiated carcinoma is confusing because in the WHO classification this definition is used as a synonym for cylindrical cell carcinoma, the tumour originally described by Ringertz in his seminal monography. Moreover, equating psammomatoid ossifying fibroma with juvenile ossifying fibroma is unjustified: these lesions differ in histology as well as in predilection site and age. Finally, the discussion of the bony lesions occurring in the jaw is meagre but I suppose they will be the subject of a separate fascicle, as was the case in the previous series.

I can heartily recommend this book for anyone who has diagnostic responsibilities for specimens from the upper aerodigestive tract.