Damjanov I: Pathology for the Health-Related Professions, 2nd Ed, 545 pp, Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 2000 ($52).

With the publication of his second edition, Dr. Ivan Damjanov continues to offer an excellent book that is targeted to a group of students who are in desperate need of an appropriate level of text. The most difficult task for authors of books for the allied health professions is to give enough material that is readable and comprehensible, without inundating the student with extraneous information. Given the range of degree levels and specificity of specialty that falls under the “allied health” umbrella, Dr. Damjanov’s text can and should be considered as reading for any program.

The second edition most notably improves on the illustrations of the first, with color. Now, the book not only is user friendly in the readable sense but also is more pleasing to the eye. The allied health target audience usually does not have the luxury of a laboratory section to accompany the lecture component of pathophysiology courses. Therefore, the illustrations are a welcome and necessary improvement. In addition, the introductory “normal” sections were thankfully retained. I would like to see them perhaps enhanced a bit in future editions.

The clinicopathologic reviews have been replaced by comprehensive review questions at the end of each chapter. Although the 4-year hiatus between editions allowed for adequate and complete evaluation by colleague and student alike, I was not one of those in favor of eliminating the clinicopathologic review. I see the future of teaching as “case based,” and the reviews were a tendency toward that. Therefore, what is missing and what would truly set this book apart as the “gold standard” is the implementation of case studies with review questions. The clinicopathologic review came close, but…

The second edition of Pathology for the Health-Related Professions has retained its excellence while adding some improvements and corrections. The author continues to accommodate the needs of instructor and student alike by emphasizing basic pathophysiologic concepts and mechanisms versus pages of gross and microscopic descriptions. It is required reading in my course.