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MRI in practice
Radiography
(1999) 5, 53-56
Book reviews MRI in Practice Catherine Westbrook and Carolyn Kaut, Blackwell Science. 1998. f22.50. ISBN o-632-04205-2 This is the second edition of a book that has consistently been high on the MRI best seller list since being first published in 1993. The authors are both radiographers (known as technologist in the U.S.A.) by profession with extensive experience in the field of magnetic resonance, both clinical and teaching. Catherine Westbrook is Education and Research Coordinator in MRI based at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. Carolyn Kaut is the Director of the Technologist Continuing Education Programme at the Hospital University of Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Both authors are recognised internationally as experts in the field. The ethos behind this book is a publication written by radiographers for radiographers. The authors use a style of text that explains the often quite complex principles of MRI in a language more easily understood by radiographers. This aim has largely been achieved, so much so that the book has also become popular with non-scientists such as medical students and clinicians seeking a basic understanding of MRI. As with the first edition, this version has chapters on basic physics, image contrast, image formation, factors affecting image quality and pulse sequence applications. Flow phenomena, vascular and cardiac imaging and contrast agents have separate chapters as do imaging artefacts, hardware and safety. In this second edition the text has been updated where appropriate and mistakes mostly corrected. These chapters constitute topics underlying the basic principles of MRI with which radiographers workir.g in this modality need to be familiar. The main difference between editions is the addition of a chapter on advanced techniques which describes the evolution over the last few years in hardware and pulse sequences and the subsequent application of these improvements into clinical practice. This largely encompasses the development of high speed techniques such as echo planar imaging (EPI) and single shot fast spin echo. 1078-8174/99/010053+04
$18.00/O
These techniques have increased the role of MRI in the abdomen and allowed for the introduction of newer applications such as diffusion and perfusion imaging as well as interventional MRI. Functional MRI techniques facilitated by ultra high speed imaging are also covered. The text is well supplemented with representative images and line drawings. One popular feature that has been retained is the question section attached to each chapter which tests the reader’s understanding of the preceding text. References to recommended further reading are also included. To alleviate problems caused by the differences between English and American, a glossary has been included towards the end of the book. The main criticism that I have is that, on occasions, the explanations are a little confusing and ambiguous. This may be a result of the authors’ wish to ‘keep the physics simple’ or my misreading of the text, although others have made similar remarks in the past. Careful reading may be required so as not to result in an erroneous interpretation of fact. A second and more minor criticism, which probably reflects my own personal interests, is that the section on spectroscopy has been removed. The authors could argue that this is not an imaging technique but with increasing numbers of centres performing spectroscopy, its re-inclusion in a future edition should be considered. Despite these minor criticisms, I would certainly recommended MRI in Practice. Another aim of the authors was to keep the cost of the book to a minimum so as to make it affordable to radiographers. At X22.50 the book is obviously relatively inexpensive in comparison to the cost of most medical text books and removes any excuse for individuals working in MRI not to own a copy. As the authors point out, this book has become required reading for many postgraduate MRI courses both in the U.K. and U.S.A. I would certainly recommend that each MRI Unit has at least one copy. The book will be particularly useful to new staff as part of a training programme. It acts as an excellent introduction to the complex 0 1999 The College of Radiographers
54
principles of this imaging modality and as a primer to more advanced texts. David MacManus Unit Manager 0 Honorary lecfuver in Radiography, Insfifufe of Newology, Universify Department of Clinical Neurology, NMR ResearchUnit, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neuroswgery, Queen’sSquare, Universify CollegeLondon WClN 3BG, U.K.
Medical Imaging Systems, Techniques and Applications: Brain and Skeletal Systems (International Series in Engineering, Technology and Applied Science, vol. 2) Edited by Cornelius T. Leondes, Gordon and Breach Science Publishers. ISBN 90-56999-541-3 This series’stated objective is to provide ‘comprehensive multi-volume treatments’ of areas of modern activity created by the second industrial (computer technology) revolution. This book is one of six volumes dedicated to the Medical Imaging Systems Techniques and Applications. It is a testament to the magnitude and pace of this revolution that nothing remotely resembling a ‘comprehensive treatment’ of brain and skeletal imaging (or, rather, image processing) could be contained within a single volume. Instead, this book is a collection of six papers providing a very limited illustration of the range of image processing applications in this field. However, individual contributions are of a high standard. All chapters are well illustrated (including 18 colour plates) and include excellent bibliographies. Two papers on MR imaging of the brain (three-dimensional processing of MR brain images and techniques in brain tumour imaging) are more general, well referenced reviews providing the introduction to the field and illustrating the range of MR applications and image processing techniques which have revolutionized the diagnosis, treatment and study of brain pathologies. The third paper, however, focuses on the problem of partial volume effects in MR and presents a detailed description of one possible solution (single channel quantification of the brain from MRI using finite mixture densities and partial volume modelling). Three papers on skeletal imaging deal with quantification of bone density and trabecular microstructure from CT images, image processing techniques in bone age assessment and application of
Book revieis
fractal analysis to model trabecular bone structure. The first paper provides an excellent introduction to quantitative CT in the determination of bone density and architecture. Papers on bone age assessment and fractal analysis of trabecular structure are highly technical and would therefore be useful only to researchers with a particular interest in these two areas. As with the scope of the book, there is also some uncertainty about the intended readership. The ideal reader would have to be given a definition of MRI and at the same time be fully conversant with wavelets and fractals - the most unlikely combination. The book would, however, make a valuable addition to a departmental library in a multidisciplinary environment with a strong computer science component. Sasha Radjenovic ResearchPhysicist, Magnetic ResonanceImaging Unit, ClavendonWing, The GeneralInfirmary, Leeds1.52 9NS, Yorkshire, U.K.
imaging of Small Bowel Tumours Edited by N. C. Gourtsyiannis and D. J. Nolan, Elsevier Science. 1997 (updated April 1998). US$284.50. ISBN O-444-89997-9 This is an authoritative, multi-author, specialized textbook that deals primarily with the radiology of small bowel tumours. The editors and chapter authors are well-respected experts and truly international. The textbook contains 14 chapters. There are background chapters describing radiological/ radiographic techniques for small bowel examination and the pathology of small bowel tumours. Specific chapters on the radiology of benign neoplasms, primary and secondary malignant neoplasms, polyposis syndromes, non-neoplastic tumours and neoplasms of the duodenum are included. Angiographic, nuclear medicine studies, ultrasound and computed tomographic features are described in individual chapters. Finally, a chapter is devoted to a non-radiological method of small bowel evaluation - enteroscopy. The layout of the text is logical and readable, although more use could have been made of summary (bullet) points. However, this factor is compensated for by the excellent tables throughout the text. Each chapter is heavily referenced. I found the index to be less than generous; for example, there is no specific
(1999) 5, 53-56
Book reviews MRI in Practice Catherine Westbrook and Carolyn Kaut, Blackwell Science. 1998. f22.50. ISBN o-632-04205-2 This is the second edition of a book that has consistently been high on the MRI best seller list since being first published in 1993. The authors are both radiographers (known as technologist in the U.S.A.) by profession with extensive experience in the field of magnetic resonance, both clinical and teaching. Catherine Westbrook is Education and Research Coordinator in MRI based at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. Carolyn Kaut is the Director of the Technologist Continuing Education Programme at the Hospital University of Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Both authors are recognised internationally as experts in the field. The ethos behind this book is a publication written by radiographers for radiographers. The authors use a style of text that explains the often quite complex principles of MRI in a language more easily understood by radiographers. This aim has largely been achieved, so much so that the book has also become popular with non-scientists such as medical students and clinicians seeking a basic understanding of MRI. As with the first edition, this version has chapters on basic physics, image contrast, image formation, factors affecting image quality and pulse sequence applications. Flow phenomena, vascular and cardiac imaging and contrast agents have separate chapters as do imaging artefacts, hardware and safety. In this second edition the text has been updated where appropriate and mistakes mostly corrected. These chapters constitute topics underlying the basic principles of MRI with which radiographers workir.g in this modality need to be familiar. The main difference between editions is the addition of a chapter on advanced techniques which describes the evolution over the last few years in hardware and pulse sequences and the subsequent application of these improvements into clinical practice. This largely encompasses the development of high speed techniques such as echo planar imaging (EPI) and single shot fast spin echo. 1078-8174/99/010053+04
$18.00/O
These techniques have increased the role of MRI in the abdomen and allowed for the introduction of newer applications such as diffusion and perfusion imaging as well as interventional MRI. Functional MRI techniques facilitated by ultra high speed imaging are also covered. The text is well supplemented with representative images and line drawings. One popular feature that has been retained is the question section attached to each chapter which tests the reader’s understanding of the preceding text. References to recommended further reading are also included. To alleviate problems caused by the differences between English and American, a glossary has been included towards the end of the book. The main criticism that I have is that, on occasions, the explanations are a little confusing and ambiguous. This may be a result of the authors’ wish to ‘keep the physics simple’ or my misreading of the text, although others have made similar remarks in the past. Careful reading may be required so as not to result in an erroneous interpretation of fact. A second and more minor criticism, which probably reflects my own personal interests, is that the section on spectroscopy has been removed. The authors could argue that this is not an imaging technique but with increasing numbers of centres performing spectroscopy, its re-inclusion in a future edition should be considered. Despite these minor criticisms, I would certainly recommended MRI in Practice. Another aim of the authors was to keep the cost of the book to a minimum so as to make it affordable to radiographers. At X22.50 the book is obviously relatively inexpensive in comparison to the cost of most medical text books and removes any excuse for individuals working in MRI not to own a copy. As the authors point out, this book has become required reading for many postgraduate MRI courses both in the U.K. and U.S.A. I would certainly recommend that each MRI Unit has at least one copy. The book will be particularly useful to new staff as part of a training programme. It acts as an excellent introduction to the complex 0 1999 The College of Radiographers
54
principles of this imaging modality and as a primer to more advanced texts. David MacManus Unit Manager 0 Honorary lecfuver in Radiography, Insfifufe of Newology, Universify Department of Clinical Neurology, NMR ResearchUnit, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neuroswgery, Queen’sSquare, Universify CollegeLondon WClN 3BG, U.K.
Medical Imaging Systems, Techniques and Applications: Brain and Skeletal Systems (International Series in Engineering, Technology and Applied Science, vol. 2) Edited by Cornelius T. Leondes, Gordon and Breach Science Publishers. ISBN 90-56999-541-3 This series’stated objective is to provide ‘comprehensive multi-volume treatments’ of areas of modern activity created by the second industrial (computer technology) revolution. This book is one of six volumes dedicated to the Medical Imaging Systems Techniques and Applications. It is a testament to the magnitude and pace of this revolution that nothing remotely resembling a ‘comprehensive treatment’ of brain and skeletal imaging (or, rather, image processing) could be contained within a single volume. Instead, this book is a collection of six papers providing a very limited illustration of the range of image processing applications in this field. However, individual contributions are of a high standard. All chapters are well illustrated (including 18 colour plates) and include excellent bibliographies. Two papers on MR imaging of the brain (three-dimensional processing of MR brain images and techniques in brain tumour imaging) are more general, well referenced reviews providing the introduction to the field and illustrating the range of MR applications and image processing techniques which have revolutionized the diagnosis, treatment and study of brain pathologies. The third paper, however, focuses on the problem of partial volume effects in MR and presents a detailed description of one possible solution (single channel quantification of the brain from MRI using finite mixture densities and partial volume modelling). Three papers on skeletal imaging deal with quantification of bone density and trabecular microstructure from CT images, image processing techniques in bone age assessment and application of
Book revieis
fractal analysis to model trabecular bone structure. The first paper provides an excellent introduction to quantitative CT in the determination of bone density and architecture. Papers on bone age assessment and fractal analysis of trabecular structure are highly technical and would therefore be useful only to researchers with a particular interest in these two areas. As with the scope of the book, there is also some uncertainty about the intended readership. The ideal reader would have to be given a definition of MRI and at the same time be fully conversant with wavelets and fractals - the most unlikely combination. The book would, however, make a valuable addition to a departmental library in a multidisciplinary environment with a strong computer science component. Sasha Radjenovic ResearchPhysicist, Magnetic ResonanceImaging Unit, ClavendonWing, The GeneralInfirmary, Leeds1.52 9NS, Yorkshire, U.K.
imaging of Small Bowel Tumours Edited by N. C. Gourtsyiannis and D. J. Nolan, Elsevier Science. 1997 (updated April 1998). US$284.50. ISBN O-444-89997-9 This is an authoritative, multi-author, specialized textbook that deals primarily with the radiology of small bowel tumours. The editors and chapter authors are well-respected experts and truly international. The textbook contains 14 chapters. There are background chapters describing radiological/ radiographic techniques for small bowel examination and the pathology of small bowel tumours. Specific chapters on the radiology of benign neoplasms, primary and secondary malignant neoplasms, polyposis syndromes, non-neoplastic tumours and neoplasms of the duodenum are included. Angiographic, nuclear medicine studies, ultrasound and computed tomographic features are described in individual chapters. Finally, a chapter is devoted to a non-radiological method of small bowel evaluation - enteroscopy. The layout of the text is logical and readable, although more use could have been made of summary (bullet) points. However, this factor is compensated for by the excellent tables throughout the text. Each chapter is heavily referenced. I found the index to be less than generous; for example, there is no specific