Book review—Rosai and Ackerman’s surgical pathology-2 volume set, 11th edition

Excerpt

This is another edition of this iconic textbook of Surgical Pathology, which has withstood the test of time. I cannot recall any office of a surgical pathologist without this basic textbook, that has served generations of trainees as the primary resource of knowledge and surgical pathologists as readily available desktop reference resource. In many training programs in European countries, starting residents are provided their personal copy and often formal teaching activities in a residency program use “Rosai” as a template. In recognition of Lauren Ackerman’s immense contributions to the development of surgical pathology as a core medical discipline, Juan Rosai kept Ackerman’s name in the title of the book when he took over the role of Editor in the early eighties. It is quite befitting that the new editorial team has continued this tradition by in turn keeping also Rosai’s name in the title. It is somewhat odd for a pathologist like me with 45 years of pathology practice experience to now have a “Rosai” not edited by him. For more than 30 years, the pathologist community has stood in awe for a series of subsequent editions, edited by Juan Rosai only. But the team of editors of the 11th edition has managed to maintain the unique characteristics of this monumental work: succinct yet comprehensive, practice oriented, a very readable style of writing, and lavish well-chosen illustrations. The editors are to be commended for the result of their efforts. …