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Radiologische differentialdiagnose der skeletterkrankungen (Radiological differential diagnosis of skeletal diseases)
Book reviews/European Journal of Radiology 20 (1995) 80-81
which was competitive with the standard single slice image quality. In this period several studies were performed to compare spiral versus single slice CT scanning in the thorax and abdomen. With the further development of the mathematical analysis of the spiral data set and the mechanical development of the hardware of spiral CT scanners, today image quality of spiral CT scanning is completely comparable with that of single slice scanning, which made comparative studies superfluous. Therefore, there is really a place for a comprehensive overview of spiral CT applications, as is offered in this book Spiral CT by Elliot K. Fischman and others. After a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction about the basic principles of spiral CT, a separate chapter on contrast administration in spiral CT scanning follows. This key issue in spiral CT scanning is properly dealt with. More than 10 chapters follow for different applications in several organs with an abundance of illustrations which are all very illustrative regarding spiral applications. The images are also of a high quality. Special chapters are dedicated to the principals and techniques of 3-D spiral CT especially in combination with angiography. Also implications in oncology are discussed. Most chapters conclude that prospective trials are needed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of spiral CT with that of single slice CT. However we feel that the point of no return is already passed and therefore such studies will not be performed. In the near future, single slice CT will become a dedicated examination only for special indications in which very high spatial resolution is necessary. Since to our knowledge no book covering principals, techniques and clinical applications of spiral CT is currently available, this book should be read by all radiologists and radiology assistants who are starting out with spiral CT. M. Oudkerk Rotterdam, Netherlands
Radiologische Differentialdiagnose der Skeletterkrankungen (Radiological Differential Diagnosis of Skeletal Diseases) Maximilian Reiser, Peter E. Peters Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1995; DM/SFr 560.00; ISBN 3-13-128701-2 Two editors, with 15 additional contributors, present a book on differential diagnosis of skeletal diseases. The first chapter deals with general criteria of film analysis. This is followed by six chapters, each dealing with a
81
basic change in the skeletal and its supporting soft tissues: decreased density, increased density, mixed hyperand hypodensity, periosteal lesions, destructive changes, calcification and ossification. The subsequent five chapters are regionally oriented and deal with joint diseases, lesions of the spine, changes in the epi-, metaand diaphysis, lesions of fiat bones and affectations of the skull. Thus, there is a very comprehensive table of contents to cover the entire topic. The abnormality demonstrated on the plain radiograph (i.e. the initial or primary finding) is the leading observation. Meticulous description of the lesion, the question of solitary or multiple involvement, the anatomic-topographic site, and the clinical data together with the patient's history are the foundation for further discussion and differentiation. This structured approach is followed in all chapters and, because of it, the book is organized by following the time honored 'six D's' of diagnostic radiology: Detection, Description, Differential considerations, Diagnosis and Documentation. Not all of the documentation (illustrations of images) is of high quality. This may be explained by the fact that unusual and rare diseases are included for which there may not be better illustrative material available. In general, however, the figures are good and well reproduced. When necessary, films are further explained and supplemented by instructive companion drawings. The tables and decision trees (flow charts) supplied are useful aides for diagnostic management and approach to problem solving; they are important tools for the radiologist in his everyday interdisciplinary work. It is surprising that nuclear medicine imaging is absent or only mentioned sparingly in the majority of chapters; in the reviewer's opinion, nuclear medicine should be included to a much greater extent. CT and MRI also could (should ?) be extended to a certain degree. Additional pathologic-radiologic correlation (gross pathology and histology) would probably exceed the scale of this book. Nevertheless, a book with this type of structure and organization has not been hitherto available in the German language. With 767 pages, 709 (1059) figures and 119 tables, it is a substantial offering and justifies the fairly high price. Once purchased, this book will be a frequent and beneficial source of reference for its owner. Otto Pohlenz, M.D. Hamburg, Germany
which was competitive with the standard single slice image quality. In this period several studies were performed to compare spiral versus single slice CT scanning in the thorax and abdomen. With the further development of the mathematical analysis of the spiral data set and the mechanical development of the hardware of spiral CT scanners, today image quality of spiral CT scanning is completely comparable with that of single slice scanning, which made comparative studies superfluous. Therefore, there is really a place for a comprehensive overview of spiral CT applications, as is offered in this book Spiral CT by Elliot K. Fischman and others. After a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction about the basic principles of spiral CT, a separate chapter on contrast administration in spiral CT scanning follows. This key issue in spiral CT scanning is properly dealt with. More than 10 chapters follow for different applications in several organs with an abundance of illustrations which are all very illustrative regarding spiral applications. The images are also of a high quality. Special chapters are dedicated to the principals and techniques of 3-D spiral CT especially in combination with angiography. Also implications in oncology are discussed. Most chapters conclude that prospective trials are needed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of spiral CT with that of single slice CT. However we feel that the point of no return is already passed and therefore such studies will not be performed. In the near future, single slice CT will become a dedicated examination only for special indications in which very high spatial resolution is necessary. Since to our knowledge no book covering principals, techniques and clinical applications of spiral CT is currently available, this book should be read by all radiologists and radiology assistants who are starting out with spiral CT. M. Oudkerk Rotterdam, Netherlands
Radiologische Differentialdiagnose der Skeletterkrankungen (Radiological Differential Diagnosis of Skeletal Diseases) Maximilian Reiser, Peter E. Peters Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1995; DM/SFr 560.00; ISBN 3-13-128701-2 Two editors, with 15 additional contributors, present a book on differential diagnosis of skeletal diseases. The first chapter deals with general criteria of film analysis. This is followed by six chapters, each dealing with a
81
basic change in the skeletal and its supporting soft tissues: decreased density, increased density, mixed hyperand hypodensity, periosteal lesions, destructive changes, calcification and ossification. The subsequent five chapters are regionally oriented and deal with joint diseases, lesions of the spine, changes in the epi-, metaand diaphysis, lesions of fiat bones and affectations of the skull. Thus, there is a very comprehensive table of contents to cover the entire topic. The abnormality demonstrated on the plain radiograph (i.e. the initial or primary finding) is the leading observation. Meticulous description of the lesion, the question of solitary or multiple involvement, the anatomic-topographic site, and the clinical data together with the patient's history are the foundation for further discussion and differentiation. This structured approach is followed in all chapters and, because of it, the book is organized by following the time honored 'six D's' of diagnostic radiology: Detection, Description, Differential considerations, Diagnosis and Documentation. Not all of the documentation (illustrations of images) is of high quality. This may be explained by the fact that unusual and rare diseases are included for which there may not be better illustrative material available. In general, however, the figures are good and well reproduced. When necessary, films are further explained and supplemented by instructive companion drawings. The tables and decision trees (flow charts) supplied are useful aides for diagnostic management and approach to problem solving; they are important tools for the radiologist in his everyday interdisciplinary work. It is surprising that nuclear medicine imaging is absent or only mentioned sparingly in the majority of chapters; in the reviewer's opinion, nuclear medicine should be included to a much greater extent. CT and MRI also could (should ?) be extended to a certain degree. Additional pathologic-radiologic correlation (gross pathology and histology) would probably exceed the scale of this book. Nevertheless, a book with this type of structure and organization has not been hitherto available in the German language. With 767 pages, 709 (1059) figures and 119 tables, it is a substantial offering and justifies the fairly high price. Once purchased, this book will be a frequent and beneficial source of reference for its owner. Otto Pohlenz, M.D. Hamburg, Germany