Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 2nd edition

Abstract

The purpose of this textbook is to provide explanations of the physiologic, pathologic, and analytical conditions or disorders responsible for abnormal laboratory data, and to do so using consistent terms and a uniform format. Diseases and conditions are grouped by common mechanisms or processes to promote a conceptual understanding of laboratory data that can be generally applied across many species. This book is divided into 19 chapters, ranging from introductory concepts in clinical pathology, such as significant figures, quality of laboratory results and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, to chapters devoted to hemostasis, the exocrine pancreas and intestine, and cavitary effusions. Each chapter begins with a list of abbreviations and symbols used within the chapter so that the reader is able to quickly look back to determine the definition of any unknown acronym. Numerous tables, figures, and algorithms are provided within each chapter to help readers to visualize concepts within the text, summarize important points and provide concise information when looking for differentials for abnormal lab results. Some of the more common conditions or diseases that contribute to the abnormal laboratory data in question are also highlighted within the tables. There are 8 pages of color plates, including leukocyte, erythrocyte, and platelet abnormalities, marrow samples, lymph node aspirates/imprints, urine sediment findings, serum protein electrophoresis, and cavitary effusions. Simple procedures, such as fine-needle aspiration of a lymph node, are described in the text and references are cited for more complex procedures, such as lymph node biopsy. Any calculations that are described within the text are usually provided with a sample calculation for the reader to work through. Compared to the first edition, the content of this most recent edition is largely unchanged. It does, however, have additional disorders, diagnostic tests, illustrations, references, and pathophysiologic explanations. The 4 major changes include: 1) the analytical aspects in Chapter 2 of the first edition are now distributed into their respective chapters on leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets (Chapters 2 to 4); 2) the Hemostasis chapter of the first edition is split into 2 chapters, one focused on nonhemostasis aspects of platelets (Chapter 4) and the other on hemostasis (Chapter 5); 3) a new chapter on cavitary effusions (Chapter 19) focuses on the pathophysiologic processes that create cavitary effusions and relates them to inflammatory, renal, hepatic, electrolyte, protein, and lipoprotein disorders; and 4) the color plate section is revised and expanded to include microscopic images of bone marrow, lymph nodes, and cavitary effusions. This book is written for a North American audience and focuses on the disorders occurring there. It is restricted to dogs, cats, horses and cattle, so readers desiring information on other species will require other references. The coverage of diagnostic cytology is limited and is beyond the scope of this textbook. Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 2nd ed. provides veterinarians and veterinary students with in-depth explanations of the pathogenesis of abnormal values in common laboratory procedures. Information is summarized into a “clinically friendly” format (tables and algorithms) that allow the reader to ascertain differentials for abnormalities at-a-glance. If further detail is desired, the text provides a complete description of the pathophysiology of the abnormality. This text is an excellent reference manual for students and would be a useful addition to any practitioner’s library.