WHO CLASSIFICATION OF SKIN TUMOURS

The WHO Classification of Skin Tumours isthe 11th volume in the 4th edition of the WHO serieson the classification of human tumours.The series (also known asthe Blue Books) has long been regardedby pathologists as the goldstandard for the diagnosisof tumours, and it is an indispensable guide for the designof evaluations, clinical trials,and studies involving cancer. These authoritativeand concise reference booksprovide an international standard for anyoneinvolved in cancer research or the care of cancer patients.

Diagnostic criteria, pathologicalfeatures, and genetic and other associated molecular alterations are described in a disease-oriented manner. This volumeupdates the existing ICD-O codes and provides new codes foruse in epidemiology and cancerregistration. It also provides informationon clinical features, pathology,genetics, prognosis, and protectivefactors for each of the tumour types covered.

The editors expect that this volumewill be of particular interestto pathologists, oncologists, and dermatologists who manage orresearch skin tumours. Sections are included on all recognized neoplasms (and their variants) of the skin and its adnexae.Since the previous edition,there have been particularly substantial changes to the classification ofmelanoma, based on the latestinformation from genetic and molecular studies.