Fundamentals of Mammography by Linda Lee, Verdi Strickland, Robin Wilson, Andrew Evans, 2nd edition
ElsevierScience, St. Louis, 2003, $67.95
Written by skilled professionals, the practice of mammography in the U.K. is succinctly detailed in this 171-page manual. Although Fundamentals of Mammography gives a singularly U.K. perspective, it would serve as a valuable companion manual for established practitioners in any country.
All women in the U.K. over the age of 50 are screened as part of an organized program run by the National Health Service (NHS). Concern for the patient is exemplified throughout and is the basis for processes that provide timely results when a cancer is suspected. Focus is on the value of image-guided biopsy procedures.
The mammographic interpretation and investigation sections formulate the foundation for comprehending benign and malignant conditions and their subsequent work-up. Of note is the U.K.'s lower recall and negative open surgical biopsy rates, while maintaining similar cancer detection rates.
The use of U.K. terminology, especially in the description of positioning, can be challenging as one must equate them with the appropriate U.S. terms. However, given the level of education required for U.K. mammography radiographers experimenting with these positioning techniques may indeed prove valuable.
Perhaps not totally appropriate as an initial training manual in the U.S, the authors exude a passion for the performance of quality mammography that can be universally understood.
By Bonnie RushAuntMinnie.com contributing writer
January 10, 2005
Bonnie Rush, RT(R)(M)(QM), is the president of Breast Imaging Specialists in San Diego, CA. She is the author of MQSA Made Easy.
The opinions expressed in this review are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of AuntMinnie.com.
Copyright © 2005 AuntMinnie.com
