This hardcover book is a unique global, collaborative effort by more than 60 authors from Europe and the United States, most of whom are experts, leaders, and respected teachers in their fields. The book is a comprehensive, easily readable, and well-written compilation to assist busy radiologists with difficult cases in their daily practice. The 7 chapters are logically organized into anatomic regions starting with the head and neck and progressing down to the chest, gastrointestinal, and urogenital regions, in addition to separate chapters on musculoskeletal and breast imaging, providing both a practical and a systematic approach to disease diagnosis. Each chapter covers the relevant pathology and associated radiographic abnormalities of major disease categories, focusing extensively on neoplasms, tumors, infection, and inflammation. There are 794 figures with 1,863 separate illustrations, 599 of which are in color, and 38 tables. Each disease category is organized under the headings “Definitions,” “Pathology,” “Clinical Findings,” “Relevant Radiographic Study,” and “Findings.” These topics are discussed fairly comprehensively but without unnecessary or excessive details, thus helping one to better understand a radiologic abnormality by a thorough knowledge of the pathologic basis of the disease.
The high-resolution radiographs are state of the art, and the photographs and corresponding photomicrographs of the gross and microscopic pathology are in color and of excellent quality, making for a good presentation. The one feature that detracts from this book is that some of the radiology images, especially in the initial chapters on neuroradiology, lack arrows to allow the reader to more easily identify the abnormality. The editors would do well to rectify this omission in subsequent editions, thus allowing for easier reading and understanding by nonradiologists, residents, and medical students. The many colored tables are useful and helpful, and the sketches and schematic drawings simply but effectively illustrate the medical, radiographic, and pathologic concepts, affording better understanding and reinforcement of the text.
There are minor editorial errors and occasional mislabeling of figures. On page 52 of the section on hemispheric brain tumors, what is listed as “ecstatic” should more likely read as “ectatic.” On page 56 there are references to Figures 24 A and B although only a 1-part Figure 24 is present. More likely, Figures 23 A and B should be Figures 24 A and B and vice versa. After the challenging neuroradiology section, the subsequent chapters are easier to read, helped in part by the presence of more arrows to indicate the abnormality. Future editions may also benefit from incorporation of more PET/CT images in selected cases.
A good number of references are provided in most chapters, and the reference lists of some are quite extensive. As stated by the editors, this book was intended to offer excellent radiopathologic correlation and to explain both the “how” and the “why” of radiographic findings. The editors have met their goal, and the result is a beautifully laid out and well-illustrated, comprehensive, useful, and unique medical textbook that also serves as a source for quick and easy reference of CT, MRI, plain radiography, and mammography findings for diseases, with images of the corresponding gross or microscopic pathology conveniently displayed alongside. The concise pathologic explanation of tumor spread and invasion will also prove beneficial in PET/CT interpretation.
I found this well-written, richly illustrated, comprehensive medical review combining whole-body imaging with relevant gross and microscopic findings to be easy to read and understand. It will be a timely, valuable, and welcome addition to my personal medical library. I recommend it as a contemporary reference book for medical students, residents, radiologists, nuclear medicine practitioners involved in PET or PET/CT interpretation, pathologists, surgeons, oncologists, and specialists in other related fields. Both radiologists and nonradiologists can enhance their medical knowledge and their medical libraries with this book. It will be a valuable acquisition in any hospital, university, or other medical library, and I highly recommend it.