Pathology of the Urinary Bladder

Christopher Foster, Jeffrey Ross , 342 pp, Philadelphia, Saunders, Elsevier, 2004 ($99).

The pathologist's role in the diagnosis of urologic pathology has gained in significance over the past several years, as early detection and subsequent management decisions pertaining to bladder tumors grow increasingly dependent on precise characterization of urothelial neoplasms and related lesions.

The latest addition to the well-known Major Problems in Pathology series, Pathology of the Urinary Bladder has provided the reader a succinct yet comprehensive review of urinary bladder pathology. The chapters pertaining to urothelial neoplasms are well organized and follow the classification scheme of the 1998 WHO/ISUP consensus. Additionally, variants of urothelial carcinoma, nontransitional epithelial tumors, and conventional morphologic prognostic factors are all discussed in detail. Separate chapters are entirely dedicated to topics such as the pathology of the urachus, interstitial cystitis, schistosomiasis, interpretation of urine cytology, and pathology of the neuropathic bladder due to spinal cord injury. One chapter of particular value deals solely with the uro-oncological management of bladder carcinoma. This latter chapter gives additional insight into pathologists' impact on subsequent management of affected patients. Unfortunately, some of the terminology within this chapter is not consistent with the rest of the book, including use of the term ‘transitional cell carcinoma’ and the three-tiered grading system for urothelial carcinomas. Apart from these minor issues, this chapter provides a wealth of correlative clinical information that is not often discussed to this degree in similar texts.

A relatively unique feature of this book is the extent to which it discusses molecular pathologic issues surrounding urothelial carcinomas. Well-referenced chapters on genotype analysis, biomarkers, p53, and DNA microarray technology provide information that is truly on the forefront of urologic pathology. These sections include fascinating discussions of newer research techniques being applied to urothelial carcinomas and yet afford a balanced and rational approach to the clinical utility of specific ancillary methods.

This volume's 49 contributing authors include a host of international experts on bladder pathology, and, as one would expect, the resulting text is of exceedingly high quality. Approximately 230 full-color illustrations highlight this definitive work, and the vast majority are superb representations of the intended subject matter. This is an exceptional book, well suited for practicing pathologists, urologists, oncologists, and clinical researchers.