Computed Tomography: Fundamentals, System Technology, Image Quality, Applications by Willi A. Kalender, 2nd ed.
Wiley Publishers, Hoboken, NJ, 2005, $75
Willi Kalender, Ph.D., is one of the pioneers of spiral CT. This book focuses on the physics and technical aspects of this modality. Physicists and clinicians with a strong interest in the how and why of CT will delight in this fine book.
The book starts with an overview of the history and the principles of CT, explaining the Hounsfield scale and how images are windowed. The technical concepts chapter does a thorough job of describing the evolution of CT from the beginning to the current state of the technology. This section includes many figures and details of x-ray beams, collimators, filtration, and detectors.
There's a considerable section devoted to image reconstruction, image quality, and radiation dose. This second edition also discusses spiral CT and the challenges that are associated with it. The importance of high image quality is stressed and the variables that affect it are discussed in detail. The performance of the entire system and the dependencies of various parameters on image quality and dose are examined in technical detail.
The chapter on special applications includes information on relatively newer techniques such as dynamic imaging, CT angiography, quantitative imaging, 4D, and virtual endoscopy. The future of CT is also discussed from economic, clinical, and technical perspectives.
A CD-ROM comes with the book and contains the same figures as well as clinical cases and a demo version of an image viewer. Overall, this book will be invaluable for those who are interested in the technical aspect of CT.
By Ray Deininger
AuntMinnie.com contributing writer
February 22, 2006
Ray Deininger, CNMT, is a 25-year nuclear medicine veteran. He has practiced clinical nuclear medicine at several hospitals, worked for several equipment vendors, and owned his own nuclear medicine software company. He presently works for a hospital and consults for a major equipment vendor in Tucson, AZ.
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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