Holladay EB: Cytopathology Review Guide (2nd ed), 453 pp, Chicago, ASCP Press 2002 ($125).

The Cytopathology Review Guide by E Blair Holladay has been expanded in the second edition with three new chapters on liquid-based cytology, special stains and molecular techniques, and laboratory management and administration. The questions now total 1186, 30% of which have associated images. The guide is comprehensive in scope and focuses on the most common specimens and problems encountered by cytologists and cytopathologists in a practice with a mix of gynecologic, fluid, and fine needle specimens. Each question is referenced, with the majority of references taken from Richard M DeMay's The Art & Science of Cytopathology.

With the exception of the three new chapters, the text is nearly identical to the first edition, with only minor changes in some of the questions. Although uncommon, there are occasional typographical errors in the questions or the discussion of the answers. Some factual errors appear in the discussions. For example, pseudoparakeratosis is not synonymous with microglandular hyperplasia, estrogen receptor immunoreactivity does not confirm breast origin of a metastatic tumor, neither S-100 protein nor HMB-45 are specific for melanocytes, intrinsic factor is not involved in folate metabolism, and only rarely are pheochromocytomas associated with a high serum cortisol. Occasional images do not seem to correspond to the question. Most distressing is the fact that many of these errors were present in the first edition and were not corrected for the second edition.

The photographs are small and of variable quality. The image quality is, in fact, slightly inferior to that of the first edition. In some cases, it is difficult to answer the question due to the quality of the image, but the image questions are generally easier than those with written microscopic descriptions.

Some dated material exists, such as the questions concerning procedures such as oil myelograms, Grimelius staining, and emphasis on the evaluation of endocrinopathies by cytology in Chapter 2. In some cases, older terminology is used without accompanying current terminology, such as arrhenoblastoma, adenocanthoma, adenoma malignum, granular cell myoblastoma, sarcoma botryoides, and histiocytoses X. Questions dealing specifically with 2001 Bethesda System terminology are generally lacking. Another disappointment is that the new chapter on liquid-based cytology has no images.

Although the second edition would have benefited from updating and correcting some of the material, this book does provide comprehensive coverage of cytopathology in an approachable format. The discussion is concise and stresses the key features that are useful in the practice of cytopathology and that make good examination questions. The second edition will remain a useful tool for self-assessment and preparation for the cytopathology board examination and the cytology board of registry examination.