Radiology Review Manual

Reviewer: Dana Smetherman, MD(Ochsner Clinic Foundation)
Description: Designed to serve as a quick reference and study guide, this updated radiology review assembles facts, lists, mnemonics, etc., in a concise fashion. The previous edition was published in 2007.
Purpose: It is intended as a single source of readily accessible information for radiologists during their daily case load or as an outline to organize their study for board and recertification examinations.
Audience: The audience includes radiology residents, general radiologists in practice, and subspecialty radiologists who must cover general radiology cases in addition to their subspecialties. The book is written an appropriate level for these audiences.
Features: The book is a compilation of disease processes, differential diagnoses, symptom lists, and mnemonics covering the gamut of radiology. The best aspect is the way it manages to be comprehensive while maintaining a reasonable size. It does not follow a traditional narrative form, which enables the author to keep the text brief. By design, the book does not include extensive illustrations or images, which would also lengthen it. The illustrations are diagrammatic in nature and included only when necessary to elucidate a point that is difficult to understand with verbal description only. The relative lack of illustrations could be viewed as a shortcoming, but is, in fact, essential to the scope of the book. It is not intended to serve as an in-depth source about any particular topic and, when used as a study guide, must be supplemented by more traditional textbooks and information from journals.
Assessment: This is a familiar tool for the study and practice of radiology for almost all radiologists in training and practice in the U.S. Its ubiquity throughout the specialty is a testament to its usefulness. Not only does it compare favorably to other books in the field, it stands essentially alone as a reference that covers the entirety of the specialty, despite the complexity and ever-expanding body of knowledge in radiology. The book has been updated every three to four years, which is appropriate given the rate of change in technology and the knowledge required to practice radiology.

Lee F. Rogers

This is the second edition of a book originally published in 1991 that attempts to present in outline form the principal clinical and imaging features of disease in all organ systems. It covers all forms of imaging, plain film radiography, CT, MRI, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine. The expressed purpose is to prepare radiology residents for the American Board of Radiology's written and oral examinations. It essentially serves as the ""Cliff Notes"" for diagnostic radiology. It is written primarily for diagnostic radiology residents but could be useful as a quick, compact source of information for the practicing community radiologist as well--a Merck Manual for radiology if you will. This is essentially an outline illustrated by a limited number of line drawings. It is organized by chapters devoted to individual anatomic body systems. Diseases are simply presented in alphabetical order with no attempt to separate the diseases into categories, i.e., tumors, trauma, infection, etc. The overwhelming acceptance of the first edition of the book by radiology residents augurs well for the second edition. The work has been expanded, and errors found in the first edition have been corrected. On the basis of its past performance, this book should enjoy brisk sales.

Booknews

A comprehensive reference and study guide that discusses all the major entities in diagnostic radiology in an accessible outline format, primarily for residents in radiology preparing for their Board examinations, but of value to all radiologists. This updated edition (second was 1993) introduces new relevant concepts and classifications, and adds more drawings, differential diagnoses, mnemonics, and disease entities. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

3 Stars from Doody