Gray W, McKee T, eds. (£195.00.) Elsevier Science Limited, 2003. ISBN 0 443 06473 3.

It is a daunting task to produce a contemporary and comprehensive textbook of cytopathology that adequately deals with the full expanse of the topic. This difficultly is compounded by the need to write a text that is not only appealing, but functional as a desktop reference for a diverse group of practitioners, from student cytotechnologists to expert cytopathologists. Yet, the second edition of Diagnostic Cytopathology manages to accomplish much of this task.

This single volume book is organised into a systems based review of general cytopathology. The second edition maintains its focus on cytomorphology with minimal discussion of sampling and preparatory techniques. There is some attention paid to the impact on cytomorphology of exfoliative versus fine needle aspiration sampling; however, the effects of cytopreparation on the cytological features and interpretation are not frequently discussed. This is …