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MRI survival guide
70
Book reviews / Eur. J. Radiol.
Liver Disease in Children F. Brunelle, D. Pariente, P. Chaumont Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1994; 145~~; DM 228.00; ISBN 3-540- 19674-9 The development of new imaging modalities as ultrasound, CT and MRI, as well as interventional radiological procedures, resulted in progress in the diagnosis of liver diseases. Nowadays the indication for angiography as a diagnostic procedure is limited to exceptional cases. In this book, the angiographic and cholangiographic techniques for children, as well as the normal anatomy and variants of the liver, are briefly described. The portal hypertension and its diverse pathogeneses in children is discussed extensively and is illustrated nicely by 65 figures. In another large chapter, the angiographic pattern of different liver tumors is demonstrated with 41 excellent figures. Other short chapters in this book include bile duct anomalies, transplanted liver and other changes with demonstration of illustrative cases by means of angiography or percutaneous cholangiography. The authors are the most experienced pediatric radiologists in this field in Europe. Based on this expertise, the authors brilliantly succeeded in providing an overview of liver diseases. The significant drawback of this book is that the authors have tried to demonstrate their huge patient material using angiography as the evaluation technique, regardless the fact that this technique is outdated. Also, this work would have been more valuable if the authors had added the more modem imaging techniques as ultrasound, MRI and CT. The outstanding image reproduction and extensively discussed problem of liver diseases, especially the indication of interventional technique, makes this book a helpful guide to all clinicians and radiologists who are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases in childhood.
19 (1994)
69-71
ionizing radiation and in some instances the combination of ionizing radiation and other agents. Four categories are addressed: (1) biologic studies including host factors and modifiers, (2) dose determination including models and exposure analysis, (3) risk assessment and (4) prevention and intervention including public understanding and public policy. The question of crucial concern is of course ‘What is the overall risk of exposure to doses below 100 mSv?‘. The answer to that question would be of paramount importance but is still unknown. The authors stick to a linear response model. They say that the recommendations in the report are neither complete nor even definitive but give 62 recommendations considered important. These should in their opinion be updated every 3-5 five years. Several of their ideas may lead to the setting up of research programs. The answer to some of the questions in category 4 may have great impact on societal attitude. A drawback of the report is that projects are only named if risks (adverse effects) of low doses of radiation are involved and no reference is made to possible hormesis or the phenomenon of adaptive response. Remarkably enough the writers of the report support the findings of BEIR IV unequivocally, although B. Cohen in the literature criticized a number of findings and conclusions of that report in no uncertain terms. Even so, it is surprising that any referral to Cohen’s research is missing. The suspicious reader might get the impression that the report is written with the aim of supporting and securing the financing of research projects at a number of large institutions in the USA. The listed projects/subjects certainly are not new. The report provides an attractive summary of existing research activities and is meritorious as a survey of ‘the state of the art, 1993’. Conclusions: Good ‘state of the art’ report with respect to research on risks of ionizing radiation. Not a book especially providing very new ideas.
Morteza Meradji
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
L. B. Beentjes
Nijmegen, Netherlands Research Needs for Radiation Protection National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements NCRP Publications, 1994; 84 pp; $20.00; ISBN 0-929600-32-O The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements has made recommendations in NCRP Report no. 117 entitled Research Needs for Radiation Protection. The report addresses research needs for establishing guidelines for radiation protection from
MRI Survival guide J.D. Cardoza, R.J. Herfkens. Raven Press, New York, 1994; 250 pp.; $69.50; ISBN o-7817-0180-5 This nice little book is an introduction guide to MRI. The stated aim of the book is ‘to equip the reader with the essential knowledge required to begin interpreting MR images and to progress to standard MRI text and the image literature.’ The book starts with a brief chapter dedicated to
Book reviews/Eur.
image construction and analysis. Then the major and common disease processes of the brain, spine, head and neck, chest, abdomen pelvis and musculoskeletal system are presented in seven chapters. A glossary of MR terminology and an appendix dealing with imaging protocols complete this book. The text is briefly worded and therefore superficial. The book is nevertheless valuable especially because the almost 200 illustrations are of excellent quality. They show a nice overview of the capabilities of MR imaging in general practise today. A small point of criticism concerns the editing. With so many illustrations, the text is too often asynchronous with the figures. The authors geared this book to the practising radiologist or radiology resident, who has no formal training in MRI. In my opinion, radiology residents nowadays see so many MR images during their training that they will take less advantage of this book compared to radiologists who now are starting interpreting MR images. In conclusion, this is a beautifully illustrated introduction guide, easily and quickly readable for a modest price. Therefore, it can contribute to make MRI more accessible for the general radiologist.
71
Pratique des Techniques du Radiodiagnostic
J.-P. Monnier, J.-M. Tubiana Masson, Paris, 1994; 368 pp; 2-225-84408
350
FFr;
ISBN
This book is a guide book for technicians and tirstyear residents in radiology. In general, this book is, on purpose, written in a very understandable style and contains basic information. The first eleven chapters are dedicated to conventional radiology. They describe how to carry out the various conventional examinations, with a special emphasis on the technique and the material needed. In addition, the authors give to the reader their own tricks to achieve a good examination. The remaining five chapters deal with modem imaging (namely, sonography, computed tomography, digital substraction angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging) and interventional radiology. This latter chapter may be very useful for technicians who are not familar with the materials used for interventional procedures. In conclusion, even though this book is more for technicians and first-year residents than for experienced radiologists, it has a place in every Department of Radiology because it contains useful information for every day. Philippe Sayer
K. Brake1
RotterdamDijkzigt,
J. Radiol. 19 (1994) 69-71
Suresnes, France
Netherlands
Announcement
International
MRI Workshop
March 24-25, 1995 Dusseldorf, SAS Royal Scandinavia Hotel
The institute of Diagnostic Radiology, Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf in cooperation with the department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston and the department of Radiology, UCL will organize a workshop “International MRI” in Dusseldorf on March 24-25, 1995. The meeting is sponsored by the European Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology (ESMRMB). The programme includes: general issue and interventional MR system developments, MR-guided therapeutic techniques, Pulse sequences for interventional MRI, Clinical applications and Image processing. For information contact:
Priv-Doz Dr Th. Kahn, Institut fur Diagnostische Radiologie der Heinrich Heine Universitat, D-40225 Dusseldorf, Germany. Fax: +49 211 3116145
Book reviews / Eur. J. Radiol.
Liver Disease in Children F. Brunelle, D. Pariente, P. Chaumont Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1994; 145~~; DM 228.00; ISBN 3-540- 19674-9 The development of new imaging modalities as ultrasound, CT and MRI, as well as interventional radiological procedures, resulted in progress in the diagnosis of liver diseases. Nowadays the indication for angiography as a diagnostic procedure is limited to exceptional cases. In this book, the angiographic and cholangiographic techniques for children, as well as the normal anatomy and variants of the liver, are briefly described. The portal hypertension and its diverse pathogeneses in children is discussed extensively and is illustrated nicely by 65 figures. In another large chapter, the angiographic pattern of different liver tumors is demonstrated with 41 excellent figures. Other short chapters in this book include bile duct anomalies, transplanted liver and other changes with demonstration of illustrative cases by means of angiography or percutaneous cholangiography. The authors are the most experienced pediatric radiologists in this field in Europe. Based on this expertise, the authors brilliantly succeeded in providing an overview of liver diseases. The significant drawback of this book is that the authors have tried to demonstrate their huge patient material using angiography as the evaluation technique, regardless the fact that this technique is outdated. Also, this work would have been more valuable if the authors had added the more modem imaging techniques as ultrasound, MRI and CT. The outstanding image reproduction and extensively discussed problem of liver diseases, especially the indication of interventional technique, makes this book a helpful guide to all clinicians and radiologists who are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases in childhood.
19 (1994)
69-71
ionizing radiation and in some instances the combination of ionizing radiation and other agents. Four categories are addressed: (1) biologic studies including host factors and modifiers, (2) dose determination including models and exposure analysis, (3) risk assessment and (4) prevention and intervention including public understanding and public policy. The question of crucial concern is of course ‘What is the overall risk of exposure to doses below 100 mSv?‘. The answer to that question would be of paramount importance but is still unknown. The authors stick to a linear response model. They say that the recommendations in the report are neither complete nor even definitive but give 62 recommendations considered important. These should in their opinion be updated every 3-5 five years. Several of their ideas may lead to the setting up of research programs. The answer to some of the questions in category 4 may have great impact on societal attitude. A drawback of the report is that projects are only named if risks (adverse effects) of low doses of radiation are involved and no reference is made to possible hormesis or the phenomenon of adaptive response. Remarkably enough the writers of the report support the findings of BEIR IV unequivocally, although B. Cohen in the literature criticized a number of findings and conclusions of that report in no uncertain terms. Even so, it is surprising that any referral to Cohen’s research is missing. The suspicious reader might get the impression that the report is written with the aim of supporting and securing the financing of research projects at a number of large institutions in the USA. The listed projects/subjects certainly are not new. The report provides an attractive summary of existing research activities and is meritorious as a survey of ‘the state of the art, 1993’. Conclusions: Good ‘state of the art’ report with respect to research on risks of ionizing radiation. Not a book especially providing very new ideas.
Morteza Meradji
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
L. B. Beentjes
Nijmegen, Netherlands Research Needs for Radiation Protection National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements NCRP Publications, 1994; 84 pp; $20.00; ISBN 0-929600-32-O The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements has made recommendations in NCRP Report no. 117 entitled Research Needs for Radiation Protection. The report addresses research needs for establishing guidelines for radiation protection from
MRI Survival guide J.D. Cardoza, R.J. Herfkens. Raven Press, New York, 1994; 250 pp.; $69.50; ISBN o-7817-0180-5 This nice little book is an introduction guide to MRI. The stated aim of the book is ‘to equip the reader with the essential knowledge required to begin interpreting MR images and to progress to standard MRI text and the image literature.’ The book starts with a brief chapter dedicated to
Book reviews/Eur.
image construction and analysis. Then the major and common disease processes of the brain, spine, head and neck, chest, abdomen pelvis and musculoskeletal system are presented in seven chapters. A glossary of MR terminology and an appendix dealing with imaging protocols complete this book. The text is briefly worded and therefore superficial. The book is nevertheless valuable especially because the almost 200 illustrations are of excellent quality. They show a nice overview of the capabilities of MR imaging in general practise today. A small point of criticism concerns the editing. With so many illustrations, the text is too often asynchronous with the figures. The authors geared this book to the practising radiologist or radiology resident, who has no formal training in MRI. In my opinion, radiology residents nowadays see so many MR images during their training that they will take less advantage of this book compared to radiologists who now are starting interpreting MR images. In conclusion, this is a beautifully illustrated introduction guide, easily and quickly readable for a modest price. Therefore, it can contribute to make MRI more accessible for the general radiologist.
71
Pratique des Techniques du Radiodiagnostic
J.-P. Monnier, J.-M. Tubiana Masson, Paris, 1994; 368 pp; 2-225-84408
350
FFr;
ISBN
This book is a guide book for technicians and tirstyear residents in radiology. In general, this book is, on purpose, written in a very understandable style and contains basic information. The first eleven chapters are dedicated to conventional radiology. They describe how to carry out the various conventional examinations, with a special emphasis on the technique and the material needed. In addition, the authors give to the reader their own tricks to achieve a good examination. The remaining five chapters deal with modem imaging (namely, sonography, computed tomography, digital substraction angiography, and magnetic resonance imaging) and interventional radiology. This latter chapter may be very useful for technicians who are not familar with the materials used for interventional procedures. In conclusion, even though this book is more for technicians and first-year residents than for experienced radiologists, it has a place in every Department of Radiology because it contains useful information for every day. Philippe Sayer
K. Brake1
RotterdamDijkzigt,
J. Radiol. 19 (1994) 69-71
Suresnes, France
Netherlands
Announcement
International
MRI Workshop
March 24-25, 1995 Dusseldorf, SAS Royal Scandinavia Hotel
The institute of Diagnostic Radiology, Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf in cooperation with the department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston and the department of Radiology, UCL will organize a workshop “International MRI” in Dusseldorf on March 24-25, 1995. The meeting is sponsored by the European Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology (ESMRMB). The programme includes: general issue and interventional MR system developments, MR-guided therapeutic techniques, Pulse sequences for interventional MRI, Clinical applications and Image processing. For information contact:
Priv-Doz Dr Th. Kahn, Institut fur Diagnostische Radiologie der Heinrich Heine Universitat, D-40225 Dusseldorf, Germany. Fax: +49 211 3116145