Diagnostic Imaging: Abdomen by Michael Federle, R. Brooke Jeffrey, and Venkat Sridhar Anne
ElsevierScience, St. Louis, 2005, $249
The Diagnostic Imaging titles are quickly becoming a must-have book in radiology departments. The fifth offering in the series, Diagnostic Imaging: Abdomen, works best as reference text after the general concepts are learned.
The book is split into three parts: gastrointestinal tract and abdominal cavity; hepatobiliary and pancreas; and genitourinary (GU) and retroperitoneum. Each part is further divided into sections based on specifics organ.
The sections begin with a brief overview of anatomy along with lists of differential diagnoses. The specific diagnoses are then discussed in terms of imaging findings, pathology, and clinical issues, and presented, for the most part, in a bullet point format. A key facts box is included in each diagnosis.
The selected images are varied and of high quality. Understandably, most of the images are CT and barium studies, but the author makes fine use of selected angiograms, sonograms, and nuclear medicine studies. In keeping with the series' theme, there are many helpful computer-generated illustrations as well. Although the reproduced images are of high quality, some of the barium images are quite small, making it difficult to see subtle details. This was most apparent in the small bowel section.
One noticeable omission is a female GU section although the preface states a separate obstetrics and gynecology title is forthcoming. The male GU system is covered in detail.
Diagnostic Imaging: Abdomen is well organized and topics are quickly reviewed. This would be an excellent reference text for boards review. However, its relatively high price makes it cost prohibitive for the average radiology resident.
By Dr. E. John MadarangAuntMinnie.com contributing writer
March 7, 2005
Dr. Madarang is a fourth year resident at Aurora Healthcare/St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee. He will start a neuroradiology fellowship at the University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento in July 2005.
The opinions expressed in this review are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of AuntMinnie.com.
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