Robbins Basic Pathology

Of books as well as men, it may be observed that fat ones contain thin ones struggling to get out. In a sense, this book bears such a relationship to its more substantial progenitor. —Stanley Robbins (preface to the first edition of Basic Pathology, 1971) The substantial progenitor (“fat”) book referred to in the aforesaid quotation is the one that has evolved into Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, and the “thin” one is now Robbins Basic Pathology. The latest edition of the latter is now available. The bigger book has always provided broader, and the smaller has delivered narrower, detail. Over the past 50 years or so, this pair of Robbins has almost inarguably maintained their status as the top two choices for imparting pathology education. Indeed, all those interested in obtaining reliable general pathology information beyond medical school, from resident trainees to senior pathologists, have turned to these books. By all accounts, readers of either have seldom, if ever, been disappointed. As in previous editions, the latest Robbins Basic Pathology focuses on major disease entities and unapologetically omits “rare and esoteric” lesions. Be that as it may, the diseases covered in these 900+ pages span from abetalipoptoenemia to zoonoses. Newer ailments (eg, Zika), en vogue environmental issues (eg, climate change), and innovative clinical developments (eg, use of cardiac stem cells to replace damaged myocardium) are discoursed. The four editors and the 18 contributing pathologists (all from the United States) have ensured that the emphasis remains on pathogenetic and pathophysiologic aspects of disease. The first chapter, entitled “The Cell as a Unit of Health and Disease,” sets the tone, providing what the editors describe as “a refresher course in cell biology.” Much of the information is conveyed through scores of spectacular four-color and three-dimensional diagrams and summary boxes convey “take-home” messages. As in earlier editions, salient clinical features and key pathologic characteristics of common ailments are well delineated. The book now benefits from the input of a team of 11 clinical consultants who seem to have ensured that the content is clinically germane. Even targeted treatments of various maladies are briefly described and elaborated upon in the online edition of the book. The latter is included with purchase of the hardcopy (and may also be separately acquired). This version provides an enhanced learning experience with the customary “clickable” features—with ready access to instructive “virtual” microscopic slides, edifying educational videos, enlightening self-assessment questions, and over 100 informative case studies. William Zinsser, the legendary writer and editor, had proclaimed the four basic premises of good writing to be “clarity, brevity, simplicity, and humanity.” The editors of the 10th edition of Robbins Basic Pathology seem to have taken this advice to heart and ensured that their work follows these principles and is above all human (ie, written by humans and for humans). The closing sentence of the chapter on “Clinical Aspects of Neoplasia” is typical: “Those of you who are in medical school now can safely assume that the expectations for rapid advances in cancer diagnosis and therapy will be realized while you are still in practice. Get ready!”