Harrison’s Hematology and Oncology

Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine is one of the excellent, but enormous, “bibles” of medicine. In the 17th edition of this work, the sections on hematology and cancer have been combined to create a single book entitled Harrison’s Hematology and Oncology. This volume, edited by Dan Longo, is written by specialists in the field and cites recent references, which makes it both trustworthy and up-to-date. The book serves as a condensed source of information intended for medical doctors, students, and, secondarily, scientists looking for a general overview of the biology, symptoms, and treatments of cancer and hematological diseases. Approximately one-third of Harrison’s Hematology and Oncology is devoted to hematology, while the remaining two-thirds focus on cancer. Each broad topic is subdivided into six sections, which are in turn subdivided into several chapters. The first sections consist of general introductions for the cellular basis of hematopoiesis and the biology of cancer. These introductions are good for someone of the intended audience because they are short and precise, thereby reminding the reader of complex biological processes while updating the reader as necessary. The subsequent chapters are organized by organs, systems, or disease subtypes. The reader is given an overview of the epidemiology, incidence, clinical symptoms, and treatments for the diseases of interest. Tables and pictures are used efficiently to ensure that the chapters are both exhaustive and short. Such features make the book generally informative, yet also very easy to use when attempting to answer a specific question. The current, extensive information available in Harrison’s Hematology and Oncology makes it a good reference book for those interested in hematology or oncology. The organizational clarity of the manuscript also makes it easy to quickly find answers to a multitude of medical queries. For these reasons, it is anticipated that this work will serve as a valuable reference for the general medical community.