5th ed, by Roderick A. Cawson, William H. Binnie, Paul Speight, Andrew W. Barrett, and John M. Wright, 434 pp, with illus, London, England, Churchill Livingstone, Harcourt Brace & Co, Ltd, 1998.
It has been nearly 15 years since the last edition of Lucas' Pathology of Tumors of the Oral Tissues. During this period a great deal has changed, and the fifth edition of this book has certainly kept up with the times. First, the chapters contain a tremendous number of color figures, which fit seamlessly with the text for each given condition. Second, this book contains many pathologic entities that have been recognized since the last edition was published.
The organization of the book, while similar to previous editions, has been slightly modified. The book opens by placing a strong emphasis on odontogenic cysts and tumors. These sections contain excellent photomicrographs, radiographs, and clinical photographs where necessary. In addition, the section dealing with nonodontogenic tumors has been expanded to include a much wider array of entities. Similarly, the authors have increased their emphasis on the behavior and management of each condition. This information is not necessary for making a given diagnosis, but it provides the reader with an excellent overview of the entire condition, which is sometimes lacking in other books. In addition, the authors have included occasional and rare pathologic entities, which add some intrigue to the book.
In conclusion, this is an excellent general reference text that would be beneficial to both practicing or student general or oral pathologists.