Written by Christina Crowe
The World Health Organization, in its seminal series on the classification of tumors, recently published, "WHO Classification of Tumours, 5th Edition, Volume 8: Urinary and Male Genital Tumours," with George Netto, M.D., Robert and Ruth Anderson Endowed Chair, as an expert member of the urinary and male genital tumors editorial board. It is now available in print and digital formats.
The WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board convened via video conference January 18-20, 2021, to complete the editorial work in the book.
"It is my distinct pleasure to serve on this editorial board, and contribute to this seminal volume in our field," Netto says.
This series, known as the WHO Blue Books, is regarded as the gold standard for the diagnosis of tumors, and comprises a unique synthesis of histopathological diagnosis with digital and molecular pathology. According to the WHO, "These authoritative and concise reference books provide indispensable international standards for anyone involved in the care of patients with cancer or in cancer research, underpinning individual patient treatment as well as research into all aspects of cancer causation, prevention, therapy, and education."
This edition of the book, "will establish a single coherent cancer classification presented across a collection of individual volumes organized on the basis of anatomical site (digestive system, breast, soft tissue and bone, etc.) and structured in a systematic manner, with each tumour type listed within a taxonomic classification: site, category, family (class), type, and subtype. In each volume, the entities are now listed from benign to malignant and are described under an updated set of headings, including histopathology, diagnostic molecular pathology, staging, and easy-to-read essential and desirable diagnostic criteria."
It is designed to be utilized by a wide range of specialists, including: pathologists, urologists, radiologists, medical oncologists, surgeons, oncology nurses, cancer researchers, epidemiologists, and more. The edition was prepared by 181 authors and editors from around the world, and includes more than 900 images and 3,600 references. Additional UAB Pathology contributors include Cristina Magi-Galluzzi, M.D., Ph.D., C. Bruce Alexander Endowed Professor, Anatomic Pathology Division Director and Genitourinary Pathology section head, and Sofia Canete-Portillo, M.D., PGY-1, contributed content to this issue.
A review of "Part A: Renal, Penile, and Testicular Tumours" by Netto and co-editors is available via open access.