AJR 2006; 186:E19
© American Roentgen Ray Society
Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2nd ed., vol. 1. Obstetrics
Teresita L. Angtuaco
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, AR
72205
By Eberhard Merz; translated by Terry Telger. Stuttgart, Germany: Georg
Thieme Verlag, 635 pp., 2005. $199
There are many textbooks and atlases dedicated to ultrasound in obstetrics.
This book combines the features of both. The sections are divided into
well-organized chapters that are easy to read. Abundant illustrations
consisting of line drawings in color, photographs of neonates, and gross
pathologic specimens complement the hundreds of images and make the
discussions easy to follow. The images and illustrations are of excellent
quality. Each chapter is divided into numerous subheadings that are followed
by short paragraphs. References are annotated on the text as numbers in
parentheses rather than superscripts. Illustrations and figures are grouped
together and inserted at regular intervals within the chapters or at the end
of the chapter. This format allows the easy transition between textbook and
atlas and gives the reader the option of thumbing through the chapters just to
view the images. The overall presentation of this book makes it inviting.
The 10 sections follow a well-organized sequence. The first section, titled
Ultrasound in Obstetrics, has eight chapters. It deals with orientation on the
application, techniques of examination, screening studies, and transvaginal
imaging in the first trimester, including gynecologic conditions associated
with pregnancy. This is followed by 11 chapters on transabdominal imaging of
normal findings in the developing embryo and fetus, fetal behavior, growth
disturbances, and fetal death. The next 14 chapters deal with fetal anomalies
grouped by body region, not organ system. The remaining chapters that follow
focus on the placenta, umbilical cord and amniotic membrane, multiple
gestations, maternal ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound, 3D ultrasound, and
invasive procedures in the diagnosis and treatment of the pregnant patient.
The last chapter sums up the safety, genetic, and ethical aspects of prenatal
diagnosis. The appendix consists of 39 pages of tables, graphs, and biometric
and Doppler measurements that can come in handy in daily practice.
The content of the text is remarkably concise considering the subject
matter that is covered. Unlike many other textbooks, the concepts are stated
in simple terms without overwhelming the reader with all the possible theories
and differential diagnoses surrounding a disease process. This may be
considered a disadvantage by those who seek a more detailed treatment of the
subject matter but an advantage by those who desire fundamental facts. After
reading one chapter, the reader is left with a basic, clear understanding of
the subject without getting lost in too many details. The extensive
bibliography that accompanies every section is more than adequate to refer the
more sophisticated reader to a more detailed discussion provided by others in
the published literature. The North American reader may find the illustrations
of the transvaginal images somewhat disorienting. They are displayed with the
apex of the sector images at the bottom of the picture. However, for someone
who has used this image orientation for many years, it is a refreshing
alternative to what is shown in most of the other textbooks written by North
American authors.
It was a pleasure to read this book. The format that the author chose in
presenting an overwhelming amount of information makes it a very practical
source. Beginners in obstetric ultrasound will appreciate its value as a
simple, comprehensive, but concise reference. Those who have experience in
obstetric ultrasound will find it a refreshing alternative to the currently
existing textbooks. This is the kind of reference book that will definitely be
used if kept accessible at the interpreting workstations for quick
lookups.
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