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Much of our knowledge concerning the pathology of breast cancer in humans has been gained from the study of this disease by the methods of classical morphology. This has resulted in a wealth of information on the various histologic types of malignant neoplasms of breast, their patterns of growth and modes of spread, and finally their prognosis based on careful and extensive correlative clinicopathologic studies. Despite these many advances it is clear that our knowledge of this disease is still far from complete. Recent studies employing the tools of classical morphology and those which extend its limits, such as electron microscopy, cytochemistry and immunochemistry, have added new knowledge and in certain instances challenged some of the old. The purpose of this communication will be to review some of the contributions made during the past five years as seen from the perspective of a general pathologist.

Dr. MacGregor, one of the greatest and most respected pioneers of pediatric pathology, has written a much expected book. It is not primarily designed as a specialized monograph, but as an aid to the general pathologist unfamiliar with pediatric problems. Much of the material to be found in the three other textbooks on pediatric pathology is now available in a compact and well-illustrated manual. The material is enthusiastically presented; the author uses the first person, a refreshing change in an era of impersonal—if clear—stylistic approach.

The authors pay homage to Dr. Peter C. Kronfeld, Professor Emeritus, who began the stereofundus and stereoexternal collection of ocular photographs at the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary. Through Dr. Rabb's efforts, this collection now numbers more than 2,000. From this unequaled source, 112 superb teaching cases have been selected for study with the collapsible stereoscope. Dr. Apple, the director of ocular pathology at the Infirmary, has documented the appearance of the pathological ocular specimens with the techniques and perspectives of the general pathologist. With the outstanding personnel of their institution and assists from other eminent scientists, these authors have combined their knowledge to present a classic for ophthalmologists in practice and in training, and also for scientists engaged in basic vision research and for physicians in other disciplines. The diseases included in the text and photographs range from lesions commonly seen in the clinic to extremely rare

This book comes from Duke University and approaches the phenomena of ocular pathology and physiology from a somewhat unusual angle. The discussion of the material follows the approach of a general pathologist and obviously reflects the training and philosophy of the senior author. This produces a most interesting and profitable treatise that should be of great didactic value. The organization of the material is logical and appealing. The illustrations are good and the lists of references in each chapter are superb. Because of its low price and its high quality, this book is recommended to medical students interested in ophthalmology and to residents in ophthalmology.

This is an excellent color atlas of tumor histopathology and represents a valuable addition to any general pathologist's reference library. Perhaps the utility is limited for the pure practice of forensic pathology, but many of us have a combined general and forensic pathology practice. Therefore this concise collection and description of common and rare neoplasms is useful. Even someone practicing strictly forensic pathology would encounter neoplasms unexpectedly and in cases of possible therapeutic misadventure. Forensic Pathology by G. Austin Gresham, published by Yearbook in the Color Atlas series in 1975, is, generally speaking, much more useful to the forensic pathologist. This addition to the Yearbook Color Atlas series is designed for “medical students, surgeons, radiotherapists and clinical oncologists.” The hematoxylin and eosin stained sections are of superior quality and the photomicrographs are clear with good choice of magnification to illustrate the salient features utilized in diagnosis. The use of gross photographs is limited but adequate. Only one radiograph is included, however, and this may be a deficiency when considering bone tumors. Pertinent electron micrographs and special stains are well chosen for certain distinctive neoplasms. The accompanying legends are concise and informative and include minimal appropriate clinical material. The neoplasms of carcinoid types arising from the foregut, midgut, and hindgut are especially well presented and include such rarities as the goblet cell and spindle cell variants of the appendiceal carcinoid. The list of carcinoid tumors includes those arising in the breast, bronchus, ovary, rectum, small intestine, stomach, testis, and thymus as well as the more commonly encountered appendiceal carcinoids.

The subtitle of this book, “A Guide to Non-Criminal Autopsies for the General Pathologist,” is sufficient justification for its publication. In Britain, Canada, and, I suspect, the United States, the majority of “coroner's autopsies” are performed by general pathologists operating out of local hospitals. Many of these pathologists have no formal training in forensic pathology and gain experience and hopefully expertise on a case-by-case basis. The difference between a hospital and medicolegal autopsy is essentially one of the approach. The approach to forensic science cases is well-defined in this book.

To the Editor.— The problem of the decline in hospital autopsies from the point of view of a general pathologist serving small community hospitals ( 1 It is rather the reaction by the medical staff physicians to a litigious social climate. In New Hampshire, where malpractice suits are frequent and malpractice insurance premiums are escalating at an astounding rate, the medical staff members I know do not want discoverable factual records of any inadvertent or misadventurous error in diagnosis or treatment of their patients to be recorded by the pathologist in the "ultimate audit." Therefore, I am most surprised that the American Bar Association's (ABA) spokesman, Mr Gonser, was so reluctant to commit himself in response to the telephone questionnaire on the autopsy. 2 I would have thought that the

The first case of cryptococcosis (torulosis) was described in 1895 by Busse and Buschke from Grifswald, Germany. This was a case of a tibial abscess with regional lymphadenitis. 1 The usual form of the disease is the generalized systemic or cerebrospinal type. The cutaneous involvement is recognized infrequently, and the literature contains few authentic examples. 2-8 Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis in which the skin lesions are the only manifestation of the disease without a preceding generalized involvement is very rare. 9 Report of Case A 60-year-old white man from Detroit first developed a "boil" beneath the left ear. This was treated with antibiotics and a sulfonamide drug, but to no avail. A biopsy was performed in September, 1955, and was reported by a general pathologist as follows: "Ruptured infected sebaceous cyst, no evidence of malignancy." Considerable drainage occurred from the boil-like lesion, and new lesions developed

The Pathology of Infancy and Childhood by Drs. John M. Kissane and Margaret G. Smith is a generally reliable text, attractively assembled, and beautifully illustrated. It is unquestionably superior to any other existing book on the subject. I believe that most pediatricians could find this to be a very useful addition to a personal library. Postgraduate students and general pathologist would also find it a useful adjunct. Will the practicing pediatric pathologist find it useful? The answer to this question is a matter of attitude and was expressed in one review of the book I happened to see. This reviewer was unfavorably impressed by the fact that too much consideration was given to diseases common to adults but seldom or possibly never seen in childhood and many other items were better treated in standard texts of pathology. I do not personally agree. Any text has very limited usefulness. To anyone

In almost no other area of oncology does there exist a more abundant literature or a more formidable array of nomenclatures than that which deals with fibrogenic neoplasms. These may range from benign fibromas to highly malignant, rapidly fatal sarcomas. A correct diagnosis is essential for proper treatment (often radical ablative surgery), a fact made more significant by the existence of a number of pseudomalignant proliferations which must be recognized. The author has drawn on a widespread personal experience and an excellent knowledge of the literature to succeed in condensing all the information pertinent to the general pathologist and clinician. The book is divided into four main parts under the categories of (1) reactive and inflammatory lesions, (2) fibromatoses, and (3) benign and (4) malignant fibroblastic and histiocytic neoplasms. Each of these is subdivided into chapters devoted to specific lesions. A typical chapter begins with a brief historical review of

THE MANAGEMENT of pigmented nevi presents many problems. Methods of treatment and clinical attitudes differ among the surgeons, oncologists, and dermatologists. It has been realized that only by a close liaison between these specialists could the varying concepts be reconciled not only for the management of pigmented nevi but for the therapeutic approach to other tumors of the skin. With this need in mind a Visible Tumor Conference was organized at the Skin and Cancer Unit of the New York University-Bellevue Medical Center, which is attended by dermatologists, a dermatopathologist, a general pathologist, and representatives of the oncological and radiotherapeutic departments. Patients with tumors of the skin that present difficulties of diagnosis or therapy are referred for the opinion of this group, which meets once weekly. Not infrequently at these conferences pigmented nevi, with or without suspected malignancy, and malignant melanomas are seen. HISTOLOGIC CONSIDERATIONS Traub and