The Bookshelf

Practical Fluoroscopy of the GIand GU Tracts

M. S. Levine, et al. Cambridge University Press, NewYork, NY, 20102, 234 pp, 485 images, hardcover.

Despite ever-increasing utilization of cross-sectional imaging,

fluoroscopy continues to play an important role in the field of

radiology. Practical Fluoroscopy of GI and GU Tracts is a first-

edition text by Drs. Levine, Ramchandani, and Rubesin.

True to its title, the book is practical. It offers technique tips

and troubleshooting advice while also providing a concise

yet comprehensive review of the pertinent pathology. With

just short of 500 images packed into 234 pages, it is an easy

read for those just starting out or a good reference for those

who just need a quick refresher.

There are 11 chapters in total. Two chapters are devoted

to the evaluation of the GU tract, and the remaining chap-

ters cover the GI tract. There are three chapters devoted to

examination techniques and normal anatomy, which are

divided into upper GI, small bowel, and colon. These chap-

ters provide step-by-step instructions for performing various

fluoroscopic techniques while also discussing pertinent find-

ings and potential pitfalls. The remaining chapters are

divided by anatomic region and discuss common pathologic

diseases manifested in these regions. These chapters include

pharynx, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine,

and colon.

The ample number of images provided is truly a highlight

and brings this already well-written text to the next level.

This book is an excellent resource for practicing radiologist

and residents alike. It provides the information needed to per-

form the procedures in a concise step-by-step fashion. It is

concise and high-yield, making it useful as both as a primary

text book as well as a reference text.

Book:

Contents: ++++Readability: ++++Perceived accuracy: ++++Utility: ++++Overall evaluation: ++++

Utility:

Medical students: +++Radiology residents: ++++Radiology fellows: ++++Practicing radiologist: ++++Subspecialty radiologist: ++++

Grading Key: ++++ = excellent+++ = good++ = fair+ = poor

Amanda Lenderink-Carpenter, MDDepartment of Radiology

Seattle, WA

Pattern RecognitionNeuroradiology

N.M. Borden et al. Cambridge University Press, NewYork, NY, 2011, 700 images, 339 pp, $79.00,softcover.

Ease of readability, abundance of high-yield images, and sys-

temizing an approach to radiologic interpretation are three

characteristics that concisely summarize the essence of Pattern

Recognition Neuroradiology, a new print volume by Drs. Neil

Borden and Scott Forseen. Deviating from the traditional

medical textbook format of highly detailed and verbose

descriptions of all pathologic processes pertaining to a certain

anatomical structure, the authors illustrate a novel approach to

diagnosing neurological disorders.

The first chapter of this volume briefly reviews basic con-

cepts and terminology in neuroradiology, including how

computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR)

images are produced. This is conveyed in simple terms, with

minimal emphasis on radiologic physics. The latter half of

the first chapter introduces one of the important themes in

pattern recognition—lesion localization—by specifying

which anatomical structures belong to a certain region (ie,

petrous portion of the temporal bone region vs. petrous apex).

The succinct second chapter, only three pages long, is cer-

tainly the most personable. The authors describe their own

approach to interpreting CT and MRI examinations of the

brain, with an emphasis on repetition and creation of template

dictations in one’s mind. The authors also list common blind

spots in neuroradiology and how to avoid the pitfall of satisfac-

tion of search, a valuable lesson for all radiologists.

Chapters 3, 4, and 5 provide a generalized categorization of

disease by process and location, outline differential diagnoses

by lesion location, and characterize lesion appearance by mor-

phology, respectively. This final chapter in the ‘‘brain’’ section

of the text helps compartmentalize and categorize one’s

understanding of pathologic processes; for instance, by listing

the lesions demonstrating diffusion restriction or the various

causes of ependymal/subependymal enhancement. The

shorter chapters in the ‘‘spine’’ section of the text (Chapters

7–10) follow essentially the same format as the ‘‘brain’’ section.

One of the most outstanding features of this text is the

image gallery (Chapters 6 and 11), which encompass nearly

two-thirds of the volume. The CTand multisequence/multi-

planar MR images are visually pleasing and well annotated.

Captions are to the point. The images complement the text

portion of the volume and facilitate comprehension of the dis-

ease processes outlined in preceding chapters. The authors’

sample dictation templates at the end of the volume are highly

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THE BOOKSHELF Academic Radiology, Vol 19, No 10, October 2012

relevant in clinical day-to-day practice and exemplify the

overriding theme of adhering to a routine pattern during

image analysis.

I find Pattern Recognition Neuroradiology useful for radiology

residents, neurology/neurological surgery residents, neurolo-

gists/neurosurgeons, and general practicing radiologists.

Neuroradiology fellows and subspecialty trained neuroradiol-

ogists may find this text introductory; however, I believe the

latter group will certainly appreciate the unique manner in

which this material is presented.

Book:

Contents: +++Readability: ++++Perceived Accuracy: ++++

1306

Utility: +++Originality: ++++Overall evaluation: ++++

Utility:

General practicing radiologists: +++Radiology residents: ++++Neurologists/neurosurgeons: +++Medical students: +++Neuroradiology fellows and neuroradiologists: +++

Soham Mahadevia, MDEmory University

Atlanta, GA