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Ultrasound in medicine—Volume 4
313
Book Reviews ULTRASOUND
IN MEDICINE--VOLUME
4
Edited by DENXS WHITE and E. A. LYONS. Plenum Press, New York and London, 1978. xxiv + 668 pp., U.S. $59.50.
This, the latest volume in the Series which presents the Proceedings of the meetings of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, is even more useful than its predecessors. This is not only because it contains a supplement of 18 papers from the companion meeting of the American Society of Ultrasound Technical S p e c i a l i s t s - - a welcome i n n o v a t i o n - - b u t also because the Programme Committee limited the number of papers given in Dallas with a consequential improvement in standard. In comparison with Volume 3, the 2197 pages of which occupied two fat books and cost $150, Volume 4 is slimmer and even better value for money. In trying to describe the flavour of a book containing more than 150 papers, it is only possible for a reviewer to highlight a few of those which seem to him to be especially interesting. Thus, Kossoff and his colleagues report the use of their automatic water-bath scanner to visualise the heart. Gramiak et al. are encouraged by the possibility of identifying myocardial infarction by echo amplitude analysis. Several groups of investigators are further quantitating echocardiography. Cosgrove et al. are carrying out clinical trials of an electronically steered real-time scanner, and realistically deal with its limitations. Shawker et al. are using an ingenious mechanical sector scanner in the upper abdomen. Some beautiful abdominal scans Of children made by a waterbath scanner are presented by Garrett and Warren. Taylor et ai. are comparing ultrasonography with scintigraphy, and several groups are studying jaundice. Kidney, pancreas and prostate are not forgotten, but more definitive treatments can be found elsewhere. In obstetrics and gynaecology fetal movements are d e rigueur with papers by Angel et ai. and Manning et al. Neurological ultrasound is enjoying a revival, with most promising tomograms produced by von R a m m e t a l ' s electronically steered sector scanner. Moreover, Barnes et al. have identified some intracranial arteries, and members of the same group are exploring the potential of moving target indicators. There are some papers of interest in the ophthalmological section. Baum presents a review of his work on ultrasound mammography, and there are other papers on the breast by Jellins and Reeve and, on computed tomography, by Carson et al. Doppler techniques are in the ascendancy. Ingenious new methods of analysing the data are being developed. Especially interesting are the papers by Gill on measurements in deep vessels,
Forster and Baker on flow measurements, and White and Curry on carotid imaging. Progress in ultrasonic diagnostics depends quite largely on the development of new techniques. Here is what the section on this subject contains: Hisanga et al.: high speed mechanical scanner, virtual ring transducer; Hisanga and Hisanga: cardiac imaging including oesophageal scanning; Skoinick and Matzuk: servo-controlled real-time scanner; Jennings et al.: high resolution instantaneous spectrum analysis; Martin et al.: arterial wall echo identification; Smith and von Ramm: improved imaging with a wide band array; Somer: optical signal processing; Eggleton and Keuwez: visualising acoustic fields; Reid et al.: digital colour display; Pickering and Bronson: converting scans to TV format; Madsen et ai.: material for use in ultrasonic phantoms; Brinkley et al.: imaging three-dimensional structures; Parker et al.: correlation of cardiac images; Daigle et ai.: light pen measurement system; Thurstone and Abbott: scan conversion; McKeighen and Buchin: variable electronic delay lines; Havlice et al.: real-time acoustic transmission imaging; Erdman et al.: ultrasound transducer calibration. Both passive and active tissue interactions are discussed, but with the current vogue in tissue characterisation, the former are dominant. Recent data on the role of collagen in attenuation are presented by O'Donnell et al., and other measurements of tissue properties are described amongst others by Vinson et ai. (using the acoustic microscope), Ogura et al. (data for skin), and Lizzi et al. (spectral analysis). Banjavic et al. and Halliwell discuss the distortion of the ultrasonic beam in traversing tissue. The subjects of papers on active interactions include clumping of platelets (Miller et al.), production of chorioretinal lesions (Coleman et ai.), anticancer drug uptake (Kaufmann and Kremkau), and toxicity in the pregnant mouse (Fry et al.). This volume, besides being the latest volume in this series, may also sadly be the last. The Editor begins his Preface by stating that this will be so unless the members of the Executive Board of the
Book Reviews
314
AlUM change their minds. It has been my privilege to review for this journal every volume so far published in this Series (Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology: 1975, 2, 87; 1977, 2, 420421; 1977, 3, 317-318), and I cannot imagine a better vehicle for the dissemination of the proceedings of the highly significant AlUM meetings. I am sure that the vast majority of the ultrasonic community would hope that the Series will continue, especially since volume 4 with its carefully selected contents seems to be even more useful than its predecessors.
HANDBOOK
OF ULTRASONIC
By R. M. LUNT. Cambridge University Press 1978. 172 pp. 71 illus., 72 figs. £9.50 (hard cover) £2.95 (paper back). R. M. Lunt is a professional who is almost unique to Great Britain being a physicist by training, but who is employed to perform and interpret ultrasound scans. This book would have been a very welcome work in 1974, but ultrasound has progressed too fast and too far to exclude a physician or surgeon in this type of text. The quality of the figures in this book are comparable to either bistable equipment or the earliest generation of Grey Scale and none of them can be considered to be state-of-the art. As one might expect, the physics instrumentation is simple and well written. There is, however, too much stress on specular reflectors and only eight lines on scattered reflectors which are probably much more clinically important. Much of the clinical aspect of the book is devoted to obstetrics and gynecology, but these subjects are only superficially considered.
Denis White ends his Preface by acknowledging the role of Plenum Press. Let me end this review by acknowledging the debt which we all owe to Denis White and his co-editors for contributing immeasurably to the development of ultrasonic diagnostics by making possible the publication of this Series. Bristol General Hospital Guinea St. Bristol B S I 6 S Y U.K.
B-SCANNING
P. N. T. WELLS
IN MEDICINE
Little attention is paid to new techniques for scanning the kidneys such as those utilizing anterior or decubitus approach and only the conventional prone approach is even considered. The pancreas is dismissed in only eleven lines while the breast is given four times that space. The appendix gives further details on the physics of scanning and briefly reviews the problems of processing and display. One disappointing aspect of this book is the inadequacy of the bibliography, there being very few references after 1974. This book will only be of value to the most junior novice. It is certainly insufficient for either sonographers or ultrasonologists who wish to practice state-of-the art Grey Scale ultrasound. Yale-New Haven Hospital 789 Howard Ave. New Haven Connecticut 06504 U.S.A.
K. J. W. TAYLOR
Book Reviews ULTRASOUND
IN MEDICINE--VOLUME
4
Edited by DENXS WHITE and E. A. LYONS. Plenum Press, New York and London, 1978. xxiv + 668 pp., U.S. $59.50.
This, the latest volume in the Series which presents the Proceedings of the meetings of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, is even more useful than its predecessors. This is not only because it contains a supplement of 18 papers from the companion meeting of the American Society of Ultrasound Technical S p e c i a l i s t s - - a welcome i n n o v a t i o n - - b u t also because the Programme Committee limited the number of papers given in Dallas with a consequential improvement in standard. In comparison with Volume 3, the 2197 pages of which occupied two fat books and cost $150, Volume 4 is slimmer and even better value for money. In trying to describe the flavour of a book containing more than 150 papers, it is only possible for a reviewer to highlight a few of those which seem to him to be especially interesting. Thus, Kossoff and his colleagues report the use of their automatic water-bath scanner to visualise the heart. Gramiak et al. are encouraged by the possibility of identifying myocardial infarction by echo amplitude analysis. Several groups of investigators are further quantitating echocardiography. Cosgrove et al. are carrying out clinical trials of an electronically steered real-time scanner, and realistically deal with its limitations. Shawker et al. are using an ingenious mechanical sector scanner in the upper abdomen. Some beautiful abdominal scans Of children made by a waterbath scanner are presented by Garrett and Warren. Taylor et ai. are comparing ultrasonography with scintigraphy, and several groups are studying jaundice. Kidney, pancreas and prostate are not forgotten, but more definitive treatments can be found elsewhere. In obstetrics and gynaecology fetal movements are d e rigueur with papers by Angel et ai. and Manning et al. Neurological ultrasound is enjoying a revival, with most promising tomograms produced by von R a m m e t a l ' s electronically steered sector scanner. Moreover, Barnes et al. have identified some intracranial arteries, and members of the same group are exploring the potential of moving target indicators. There are some papers of interest in the ophthalmological section. Baum presents a review of his work on ultrasound mammography, and there are other papers on the breast by Jellins and Reeve and, on computed tomography, by Carson et al. Doppler techniques are in the ascendancy. Ingenious new methods of analysing the data are being developed. Especially interesting are the papers by Gill on measurements in deep vessels,
Forster and Baker on flow measurements, and White and Curry on carotid imaging. Progress in ultrasonic diagnostics depends quite largely on the development of new techniques. Here is what the section on this subject contains: Hisanga et al.: high speed mechanical scanner, virtual ring transducer; Hisanga and Hisanga: cardiac imaging including oesophageal scanning; Skoinick and Matzuk: servo-controlled real-time scanner; Jennings et al.: high resolution instantaneous spectrum analysis; Martin et al.: arterial wall echo identification; Smith and von Ramm: improved imaging with a wide band array; Somer: optical signal processing; Eggleton and Keuwez: visualising acoustic fields; Reid et al.: digital colour display; Pickering and Bronson: converting scans to TV format; Madsen et ai.: material for use in ultrasonic phantoms; Brinkley et al.: imaging three-dimensional structures; Parker et al.: correlation of cardiac images; Daigle et ai.: light pen measurement system; Thurstone and Abbott: scan conversion; McKeighen and Buchin: variable electronic delay lines; Havlice et al.: real-time acoustic transmission imaging; Erdman et al.: ultrasound transducer calibration. Both passive and active tissue interactions are discussed, but with the current vogue in tissue characterisation, the former are dominant. Recent data on the role of collagen in attenuation are presented by O'Donnell et al., and other measurements of tissue properties are described amongst others by Vinson et ai. (using the acoustic microscope), Ogura et al. (data for skin), and Lizzi et al. (spectral analysis). Banjavic et al. and Halliwell discuss the distortion of the ultrasonic beam in traversing tissue. The subjects of papers on active interactions include clumping of platelets (Miller et al.), production of chorioretinal lesions (Coleman et ai.), anticancer drug uptake (Kaufmann and Kremkau), and toxicity in the pregnant mouse (Fry et al.). This volume, besides being the latest volume in this series, may also sadly be the last. The Editor begins his Preface by stating that this will be so unless the members of the Executive Board of the
Book Reviews
314
AlUM change their minds. It has been my privilege to review for this journal every volume so far published in this Series (Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology: 1975, 2, 87; 1977, 2, 420421; 1977, 3, 317-318), and I cannot imagine a better vehicle for the dissemination of the proceedings of the highly significant AlUM meetings. I am sure that the vast majority of the ultrasonic community would hope that the Series will continue, especially since volume 4 with its carefully selected contents seems to be even more useful than its predecessors.
HANDBOOK
OF ULTRASONIC
By R. M. LUNT. Cambridge University Press 1978. 172 pp. 71 illus., 72 figs. £9.50 (hard cover) £2.95 (paper back). R. M. Lunt is a professional who is almost unique to Great Britain being a physicist by training, but who is employed to perform and interpret ultrasound scans. This book would have been a very welcome work in 1974, but ultrasound has progressed too fast and too far to exclude a physician or surgeon in this type of text. The quality of the figures in this book are comparable to either bistable equipment or the earliest generation of Grey Scale and none of them can be considered to be state-of-the art. As one might expect, the physics instrumentation is simple and well written. There is, however, too much stress on specular reflectors and only eight lines on scattered reflectors which are probably much more clinically important. Much of the clinical aspect of the book is devoted to obstetrics and gynecology, but these subjects are only superficially considered.
Denis White ends his Preface by acknowledging the role of Plenum Press. Let me end this review by acknowledging the debt which we all owe to Denis White and his co-editors for contributing immeasurably to the development of ultrasonic diagnostics by making possible the publication of this Series. Bristol General Hospital Guinea St. Bristol B S I 6 S Y U.K.
B-SCANNING
P. N. T. WELLS
IN MEDICINE
Little attention is paid to new techniques for scanning the kidneys such as those utilizing anterior or decubitus approach and only the conventional prone approach is even considered. The pancreas is dismissed in only eleven lines while the breast is given four times that space. The appendix gives further details on the physics of scanning and briefly reviews the problems of processing and display. One disappointing aspect of this book is the inadequacy of the bibliography, there being very few references after 1974. This book will only be of value to the most junior novice. It is certainly insufficient for either sonographers or ultrasonologists who wish to practice state-of-the art Grey Scale ultrasound. Yale-New Haven Hospital 789 Howard Ave. New Haven Connecticut 06504 U.S.A.
K. J. W. TAYLOR