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Book Review |
Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 90048
By Mauricio Castillo. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins,
414 pp., 2005. $69.95 (softcover) (ISBN: 0781779499)
The organization of the book is well thought out. The book contains more than 400 pages of text, and the author divides it into two main sections. Part 1, "Imaging Protocols and Guidelines," contains a review of CT and MR protocols and a summary of the technical aspects of myelography and catheter angiography, sedation and anxiolysis, medications important in neuroimaging, and MR compatibility issues. I was thoroughly impressed with this section because no other neuroradiology book on the market concisely presents this information in one resource. This makes Neuroradiology Companion especially valuable to residents and fellows rotating in neuroradiology.
The CT and MR protocols include all imaging parameters and are major tools for individuals monitoring studies. Commonly asked questions about sedation and providing anxiolysis are answered here. In addition, the author describes how to premedicate patients to prevent contrast reactions and how to deal with contrast reactions when encountered. One criticism of the text that becomes evident when reading part 2, however, is that the author assumes the reader is well versed in MRI. With some of the newer advances in MRI, such as spectroscopy, diffusion, and perfusion imaging, a chapter devoted to a review of basic MR physics and some of the newer imaging techniques would be a valuable asset.
Part 2 of the text, "Fundamentals," is divided into the three components of neuroradiology: brain, head and neck, and spine. Within each of these sections are subsections containing categories of disease and within each are subcategory teaching file cases representing a particular disease. Within each teaching file case are eight to 10 key points. Each of these cases is followed by two to four images showing the particular abnormality, followed by suggested references on that particular subject matter. Overall, the organization of part 2 is well thought out, and all major categories of disease are covered. The image quality is fairly good and the legends are brief and to the point.
The strongest section of the book by far is the brain section, with the chapters devoted to tumor imaging the best of all. There are also subsections in the spine and head and neck sections. The spine section is divided into subsections devoted to categories of disease similar to the brain section. The head and neck section is subdivided differently from the other two sections. The author has divided this section by examining head and neck masses, then separate subsections devoted to the sinonasal cavities, temporal bone, and orbits.
The author's purpose was to cover the major diseases in a brief and concise format. I would have to agree, as there was no major entity within brain, head and neck, and spine absent in this text. Most major diseases are covered, although when reading the key facts presented with any particular case, the information provided is brief, and full explanations of disease entities are lacking. This review text is meant to briefly explain a disease entity that one may encounter during image review or that may be mentioned as an aside.
For example, in considering cerebral vasculitis, the author presents the key points and two images of vasculitis. Although the major causes of vasculitis are provided, the vasculitides are not grouped as to the type of vessels involved (small, medium, or large vessel involvement), and connective tissue disorders are excluded (such as scleroderma). Another example can be found in the spine section on page 238 regarding herniated disks in the lumbar spine. The author provides brief information about herniated disks in general but does not provide a brief description of the common terminology for lumbar disk herniations, which I think would be highly valuable for the reader.
A major criticism with this book is the amount of empty space within the pages. Many of the one-page cases are actually only three quarters full, and some of the two-page cases have empty space up to three quarters of the second page. So, although the total number of pages may be more than 400, the amount of used space is definitely less. The empty space could be better used by either providing more images as examples or providing diagram boxes of differential diagnoses of the imaging findings.
A second criticism is the inability to search based on pattern of disease. Individuals in private practice, for example, may encounter a particular imaging finding, such as a ring-enhancing lesion within the brain, and want to see a differential diagnosis for this finding. There is no way to conduct such a search in this book.
Overall, the book is best for radiology residents and medical students who are rotating in neuroradiology. For those studying for the boards, this book can be used as a quick reference for looking up a particular disease, but because of the brevity of the key points, a more comprehensive textbook in neuroradiology is recommended. Both residents and fellows will find the first part of this book, "Imaging Protocols and Guidelines," a valuable resource, and I will make this required reading for my own students.
Given the pros and cons regarding Neuroradiology Companion: Methods, Guidelines, and Imaging Fundamentals and based on its size and expense, it should be considered as part of any comprehensive neuroradiology library.
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