Scientists from both academia and industry in many countries have closely cooperated to arrive at a consensus on the descriptions of all the types of tumour and preneoplastic lesions encountered in laboratory mice. The series of fascicles should provide information and guidelines especially adapted for international use in practical toxicologic pathology. Images showing the typical appearance of the discussed lesions and references to the most recently published papers complete the information presented here.

This is the seventh in a unique series of fasicles comprising an international classification of rodent tumors which provides information and guidelines for international use in practical toxicologic pathology. In a concise, easy-to-use format, essential information on each lesion is presented with typical micorgraphs selected from both spontaneous and induced lesions. The complete range of organ systems in the rat is covered in the series of 10 fasicles. Fasicle 7 covers the central nervous system, heart, eye, and mesothelium. This classification will harmonize and standardize the nomenclature and diagnostic criteria to be used worldwide for regulatory purposes.

This series of fascicles comprising an international classification of rodent tumors provides information and guidelines especially adapted for international use in practical toxicologic pathology. This is expressed particularly in the concise easy-to-use format of the narrative in all sections. Included in this classification are tumors and relevant pre-neoplastic lesions of the rat for all organ systems. The third fascicle covers the urinary system and is divided into data-sheets which represent the essential information on a particular lesion. Each data-sheet is prepared in a standard layout, always starting on a new page with a header section. The descriptions of the diagnostic features comprise the main histopathological features of the specified lesion in a concise list. Most data-sheets include at least one typical micrograph, selected from among both spontaneous and induced lesions.