Electron Microscopic Atlas Of Lymph Node

,,1m Kleinsten die wirkliche Wahrheit gibt graBen Gedanken erst Klarheit" KARL THOMAS Each year sees the publication of hundreds of reports of experimental work on the lymphatic tissue, yet morphological studies of the cells involved can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Furthermore, anyone who tries to identify these cells by morphological criteria is accused of sophistry and hair splitting, whereas it is accounted scientifically correct and unbiased to speak of "lymphoid cells", "blast cells" etc. Not so many years ago things were different: there were too many names and too many classifi cations and everyone backed his particular fancy. People thought of cells in terms of rigid classes, nothing then being known about the transformability of mononuclear blood cells. Today we must look for the middle way: cells should be named and defined according to morpho logical criteria but their transformation potential should be borne in mind. Once the cells are analysed and subdivided, it will be simple enough to set up proper classifications afterwards. This book arose out of the conviction that there should be more criteria and more information available on the morphology of human lymphoreticular cells; previously such information had been restricted by the difficulty of the special hematological and cytochemical staining methods.

The scanning electron microscope (SEM) has been used with increasing frequency in recent years to study the surface mor phology of normal, transformed and malignant leukocytes. Since the original reports on critical point-dried lymphocytes published in 1973, results of other studies using improved methods have been reported giving rise to some controversy in this field and this is discussed in the text of the atlas. Advances in preparatory techniques recorded during the past 3 years have also contributed much to a better understanding of cell surface phenomena as seen under the SEM. The text of the atlas traces the developments in this field chronologically, summarizes the available literature and presents the current situation in the light of the most recent studies in this field. The photographs were selected to illustrate the spectrum of surface morphology of the different cell types obtained from normal individuals and patients with disease states. Hopefully, the atlas will serve as a guide for future studies and as an illustration of what SEM has to offer in providing details of surface architecture.

This text atlas, now in its second edition, presents in simplest form the basic diagnostic criteria used by the electron microscopist in studying neoplasms and other diseases encountered in the routine practice of pathology. Every field of electron microscopy is covered and low magnification plates are juxtaposed with higher magnifications to illustrate diagnostic features. The largest section of the book is devoted to neoplasms as this is the area in which most diagnostic problems occur. Renal glomerular disease is another important category in which ultrastructural study may be critical in diagnosis; infectious diseases, especially those of viral, protozoan, and unusual bacterial etiologies, are a third area in which electron microscopy may be used to establish or susbstantiate a diagnosis. All of these areas are comprehensively covered with concise, readable text and more than 800 first-quality images. This book is the preeminent reference for pathologists needing current information on the role of ultrastructure in diagnostic pathology.

The author, R.V. Krstic, is well-known internationally for his excellent histological drawings. This atlas is an excellent supplement to conventional histology textbooks, for students, teachers and professionals alike.