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Physics in medical ultrasound
LTtrasound in Meal & Biol Vol. 13, No. 7, pp. 421-422, 1987 Printed in the U.S.A.
0301-5629/87 $3.00 + .00 © 1987 Pergamon Journals Ltd.
QBook Reviews
ATLAS D'ECHO-ANATOMIE
F(ETALE NORMALE
ET PATHOLOGIQUE
By J. P. Aubry and M. C. Aubry, Masson, Paris, 1986, 176pp. The continued improvement of ultrasound imaging allows more and more cases of fetal anomalies to be indentified reasonably early in pregnancy by a large number of practioners if well trained in this technique. They need at least a very good knowledge of normal and abnormal anatomy which should be learned very carefully and for which reference books, that are easy to handle, are of incomparable value because of the complexity of this matter ( a n a t o m y differs somewhat with gestation age, many sections may be displayed with important or subtle changes in the shape and connections between structures). Since the time when the only fetal malformation detected by ultrasound was anencephaly, many good sonograms presenting quite a large number of anomalies have been published in textbooks related to ultrasound in obstetrics. Very few sonograms have been published in a genuine atlas where the only written text is the legends of the illustrations. In our opinion this is a rare quality for an atlas when compared to textbooks which are used more often for time consuming study or for reference when not hurried by the examination procedure. A well documented atlas, for ultrasound as well as for other matter that can be explained through images, has the unrivalled advantage to bring quick but very full information on a particular area. It is useful for beginners to learn the matter or for experts to remember some unusual anatomical detail or some particular connection between structures on less usual sections. This atlas, written in French (translated legends might lead to issues in English, S p a n i s h . . . ) includes 12 chapters and an index, but no bibliography, 669 illustrations presented from the experience of an antenatal diagnostic
center where more than 500 malformations were seen within seven years. The chapters are: gross morphology, head, face, spine, chest, abdomen, urinary tract, genitalia, limbs and extremities, soft parts, multiple pregnancies and polymalformations. Each of the first nine chapters covers normal anatomy, comprehensive for the brain, less for the cardiovascular system where the drawings are scarce (only four, one incomplete [96a], two inverted [97a, b]); they are followed by sonograms of various anomalies together with X-rays and pathology specimens. The quality of the illustrations is good and the section dealing with limbs and extremities is very interesting, since few have showed these anomalies so well. After having had the pleasure to glance through this atlas, looking carefully to find the anomalies in order to participate in the diagnosis, I thought that readers would not necessarily follow this way, but they would use the illustrations and legends to learn ultrasonic fetal anatomy and pathology, to learn to recognize the different parts of their sonograms and to understand, before imerpreting, the images for clinical use. In my opinion, this is not possible because the authors were lean with their legends: some sonograms are legendless and the maximum is about four legends for one picture, one or none for TM tracings! Reference to section plane is almost absent. The work appears to have been written in too great a hurry. It should not be difficult to improve it very much. Indeed, the basic material is worthwhile.
University Hospital Brugmann Brussels
S. LEVI
PHYSICS IN MEDICAL ULTRASOUND Edited by J. A. Evans, The Institute of Physical Sciences in Medicine, London, 1986, 178 pp., £18.50. What a surprise! I had expected this book to be just another introductory text on the physics of medical ultrasound, but this is nothing of the sort. This book, published by the Institute of Physical Sciences and Medicine, London, England, presents the proceedings of a meeting held at the Hatfield College, University of D u r h a m on 11-12 July 1985. Although a mere 184 pages, this impressive book contains twenty-four chapters covering most aspects of the state-of-the-art in medical ultrasound physics. The organizers of this conference are to be congratu-
lated on assembling such an outstanding group of scientists. This assemblage clearly demonstrates the great depth and breadth of the ultrasound physicists of the United Kingdom. The book is divided into five sections, with each section containing three to seven chapters. In spite of the divergent topics and multiple authors, the editor has done an exceptionally good job in unifying the format and style of each chapter. The typesetting and the illustrations are first rate. 421
422
Book reviews
Section 1 entitled "Ultrasonic Bioeffects Propagation and Output Measurement" contains an excellent review by Dr. M. Dyson on recent experimental evidence of the effects of diagnostic ultrasound on tissue. Several chapters are devoted to the latest in hydrophone calibration and measurement standards for the characterization of the acoustic output of diagnostic ultrasound equipment. In spite of the fact that all of the authors are from the United Kingdom, they demonstrate an excellent awareness of ultrasound standards and usage in other parts of the world. Section 2 is entitled "Ultrasonic Field Characterization." Doctors H. C. Starritt and F. A. Duck show how ultrasound beam parameter measurements depend on the ultrasonic power. Other chapters report on the visualization of beam shapes. Section 3 is on "Quality Assurance" and contains four chapters covering tissue-mimicking material characterization and the description of a test object for assessing the performance of Doppler shift flow meters. Also included is a scheme for assessing the routine quality control of ultrasonic scanners. The next section, entitled "Doppler Ultrasound" con-
tains six chapters on various quantitative aspects of this topic. Particular attention is given to the question of the ability of Doppler to measure accurately volume blood flow. The last section is entitled, "Ultrasonic Instrumentation." One chapter, written by Doctors R. J. Marsh, J. E. Gardener and G. Cusick, has the intriguing title, "Real Time S c a n n e r s - - T i s s u e Characterization or Machine Characterization?" Automatic time gain compensation is covered in an additional chapter. The final chapter is on the Lithotripter. I found this book to be accurate, informative, and very much at the cutting edge of the physics and instrumentation of diagnostic ultrasound. The conference at which this book was based must have been exciting, and though I am somewhat saddened in learning that I missed such a great conference, I am very pleased that I can obtain some of the excitement and knowledge by reading this well written book. My only criticism of this book is that I wish there was more of it.
Temple University Medical School
MARVIN C. ZISK[N
0301-5629/87 $3.00 + .00 © 1987 Pergamon Journals Ltd.
QBook Reviews
ATLAS D'ECHO-ANATOMIE
F(ETALE NORMALE
ET PATHOLOGIQUE
By J. P. Aubry and M. C. Aubry, Masson, Paris, 1986, 176pp. The continued improvement of ultrasound imaging allows more and more cases of fetal anomalies to be indentified reasonably early in pregnancy by a large number of practioners if well trained in this technique. They need at least a very good knowledge of normal and abnormal anatomy which should be learned very carefully and for which reference books, that are easy to handle, are of incomparable value because of the complexity of this matter ( a n a t o m y differs somewhat with gestation age, many sections may be displayed with important or subtle changes in the shape and connections between structures). Since the time when the only fetal malformation detected by ultrasound was anencephaly, many good sonograms presenting quite a large number of anomalies have been published in textbooks related to ultrasound in obstetrics. Very few sonograms have been published in a genuine atlas where the only written text is the legends of the illustrations. In our opinion this is a rare quality for an atlas when compared to textbooks which are used more often for time consuming study or for reference when not hurried by the examination procedure. A well documented atlas, for ultrasound as well as for other matter that can be explained through images, has the unrivalled advantage to bring quick but very full information on a particular area. It is useful for beginners to learn the matter or for experts to remember some unusual anatomical detail or some particular connection between structures on less usual sections. This atlas, written in French (translated legends might lead to issues in English, S p a n i s h . . . ) includes 12 chapters and an index, but no bibliography, 669 illustrations presented from the experience of an antenatal diagnostic
center where more than 500 malformations were seen within seven years. The chapters are: gross morphology, head, face, spine, chest, abdomen, urinary tract, genitalia, limbs and extremities, soft parts, multiple pregnancies and polymalformations. Each of the first nine chapters covers normal anatomy, comprehensive for the brain, less for the cardiovascular system where the drawings are scarce (only four, one incomplete [96a], two inverted [97a, b]); they are followed by sonograms of various anomalies together with X-rays and pathology specimens. The quality of the illustrations is good and the section dealing with limbs and extremities is very interesting, since few have showed these anomalies so well. After having had the pleasure to glance through this atlas, looking carefully to find the anomalies in order to participate in the diagnosis, I thought that readers would not necessarily follow this way, but they would use the illustrations and legends to learn ultrasonic fetal anatomy and pathology, to learn to recognize the different parts of their sonograms and to understand, before imerpreting, the images for clinical use. In my opinion, this is not possible because the authors were lean with their legends: some sonograms are legendless and the maximum is about four legends for one picture, one or none for TM tracings! Reference to section plane is almost absent. The work appears to have been written in too great a hurry. It should not be difficult to improve it very much. Indeed, the basic material is worthwhile.
University Hospital Brugmann Brussels
S. LEVI
PHYSICS IN MEDICAL ULTRASOUND Edited by J. A. Evans, The Institute of Physical Sciences in Medicine, London, 1986, 178 pp., £18.50. What a surprise! I had expected this book to be just another introductory text on the physics of medical ultrasound, but this is nothing of the sort. This book, published by the Institute of Physical Sciences and Medicine, London, England, presents the proceedings of a meeting held at the Hatfield College, University of D u r h a m on 11-12 July 1985. Although a mere 184 pages, this impressive book contains twenty-four chapters covering most aspects of the state-of-the-art in medical ultrasound physics. The organizers of this conference are to be congratu-
lated on assembling such an outstanding group of scientists. This assemblage clearly demonstrates the great depth and breadth of the ultrasound physicists of the United Kingdom. The book is divided into five sections, with each section containing three to seven chapters. In spite of the divergent topics and multiple authors, the editor has done an exceptionally good job in unifying the format and style of each chapter. The typesetting and the illustrations are first rate. 421
422
Book reviews
Section 1 entitled "Ultrasonic Bioeffects Propagation and Output Measurement" contains an excellent review by Dr. M. Dyson on recent experimental evidence of the effects of diagnostic ultrasound on tissue. Several chapters are devoted to the latest in hydrophone calibration and measurement standards for the characterization of the acoustic output of diagnostic ultrasound equipment. In spite of the fact that all of the authors are from the United Kingdom, they demonstrate an excellent awareness of ultrasound standards and usage in other parts of the world. Section 2 is entitled "Ultrasonic Field Characterization." Doctors H. C. Starritt and F. A. Duck show how ultrasound beam parameter measurements depend on the ultrasonic power. Other chapters report on the visualization of beam shapes. Section 3 is on "Quality Assurance" and contains four chapters covering tissue-mimicking material characterization and the description of a test object for assessing the performance of Doppler shift flow meters. Also included is a scheme for assessing the routine quality control of ultrasonic scanners. The next section, entitled "Doppler Ultrasound" con-
tains six chapters on various quantitative aspects of this topic. Particular attention is given to the question of the ability of Doppler to measure accurately volume blood flow. The last section is entitled, "Ultrasonic Instrumentation." One chapter, written by Doctors R. J. Marsh, J. E. Gardener and G. Cusick, has the intriguing title, "Real Time S c a n n e r s - - T i s s u e Characterization or Machine Characterization?" Automatic time gain compensation is covered in an additional chapter. The final chapter is on the Lithotripter. I found this book to be accurate, informative, and very much at the cutting edge of the physics and instrumentation of diagnostic ultrasound. The conference at which this book was based must have been exciting, and though I am somewhat saddened in learning that I missed such a great conference, I am very pleased that I can obtain some of the excitement and knowledge by reading this well written book. My only criticism of this book is that I wish there was more of it.
Temple University Medical School
MARVIN C. ZISK[N