Harcourt Health Sciences, St. Louis, 2000, $229
Picking out a chest radiology book is not one of the easiest decisions to make. Interpreting chest radiology studies requires a large fund of knowledge and, most importantly, the experience that accrues from seeing large numbers of normal and abnormal studies. Imaging of Diseases of the Chest comes quite close to being a comprehensive and manageable guide for new residents.
The text is clear, simply written, and is profusely illustrated. The vast majority of the conditions discussed in the text have an accompanying image, and many conditions have multiple images from all modalities.
The book is divided into 18 chapters. The chapter on normal anatomy sets the trend and includes a discussion of all the radiologically relevant structures. All of the structures discussed are clearly shown on an accompanying plain radiograph or CT image. Throughout the book, the x-ray, CT, and occasional MR images, are carefully chosen to delineate the pathology clearly. The quality of image reproduction is superb.
In the chapter on basic radiological patterns, each finding (silhouette sign, air bronchogram, etc.) is enhanced with a multitude of images depicting the finding. The more important signs have tables listing the differentials.
The chapter on HRCT gives a very good overview on anatomy, scanning protocols, and basic HRCT findings.
The chapter on neoplasms is well structured, comprehensive, and complete. While a large amount of information is provided, the logical sequencing of the material stops it short of being overwhelming.
The text offers extensive, up-to-date references. The chapter on immunological diseases of the lung, and the section on diffuse lung diseases in particular, stands out for its cogent presentation of difficult material.
How does this book compare against other textbooks on chest radiology? Each of the major textbooks has a slightly different focus. Diagnosis of Disease of the Chest, by Robert Fraser, is a scholarly tome that has too much information and not enough images. A Radiologic Approach to Diseases of the Chest by Irwin Freundlich strikes a balance between a pattern-oriented textbook and a disease-oriented textbook. The initial chapters of the book are approach chapters modeled on a pattern-oriented paradigm, but they have not been fleshed out enough to make them really useful.
Imaging of Diseases of the Chest is a classic disease-oriented book. The length and cost of this book make it an impractical addition to the must-read list for every resident. However, the first few chapters are a valuable resource, and the exhaustive text, as well as the comprehensive images, makes it an excellent reference book.
By Dr. Rashmi T. NairAuntMinnie.com contributing writer
Dr. Nair is a senior resident at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research in Chandigarh, India.
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