The Bookshelf

Primer of Diagnostic Imaging

R. Weissleder et al. Elsevier/Mosby, St. Louis, MO,2011, 816 pp., approximately 1700 tables/figures/illustrations, paperback, $125.00.

In its 5th edition, Primer of Diagnostic Imaging has undergone a

largely cosmetic and functional update. From its inception,

the authors strived to make The Primer a ‘‘central learning sys-

tem for residents and fellows’’ as well as a ‘‘refresher text for

faculty and practicing physicians.’’ The changes in the new

edition focus on the original goal of the text to be a ‘‘handy

and readily available’’ resource for diagnostic radiology resi-

dents and practitioners.

Specifically, major changes to formatting and the addition

of online access are a few of the changes in this edition.

Although the succinct bullet-point text and black and white

anatomy drawings are unchanged, this new edition has a com-

pletely reformatted color-coded layout that is much

improved. These new changes help to increase the text’s

readability by displaying the information in an easier-to-

read two-column format. The book is noticeably more port-

able as more than 300 pages were eliminated with the new for-

matting. Although the individual pages feature more text than

prior editions, there is still plenty of room for notes and anno-

tations within the margins. Additionally, the figures are now

labeled allowing for much improved correlation to the text.

Scattered throughout are minor updates to the computed

tomography, positron emission tomography/computed

tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging sections; how-

ever, the majority of the text is unchanged compared to the

most recent edition. Also new to this edition, the publisher

includes online access to the full text and figures through

Elsevier’s Expert Consult website.

The Primer is not designed to be read cover to cover.

Instead, it functions as a reference text that contains basic

foundational knowledge from which the reader can build

on. The text retains its 13 organ-system-based imaging

chapters including Chest, Cardiac, Gastrointestinal, Genito-

urinary, Musculoskeletal, Neurologic, Head and Neck, Vas-

cular, Breast, Obstetric, Pediatric, and Nuclear Imaging.

The chapters typically begin with a brief outline of relevant

anatomy followed by the bulk of the chapter addressing the

core radiology curriculum. The chapters conclude with doz-

ens of useful pertinent differential diagnoses.

In addition to the imaging chapters, the short chapter on

various contrast agents is well done and addresses a common

gap in resident knowledge. The final section is a brief, but

comprehensive, physics outline. (Note: the additional mag-

Grading key: ++++ = excellent+++ = good++ = fair+ = poor

1324

netic resonance imaging physics CD that was included as a

bonus with the 4th edition is no longer included.)

Overall, this edition of Primer of Diagnostic Radiology

improves on the prior editions by refining the readability,

portability and usability of the text while maintaining its

beloved high-yield structure. The improved formatting and

online access are welcomed features that readers will appreci-

ate. Whether serving as the foundation for radiology board

preparation or as a handy reading-room reference, The Primer

fills either niche nicely.

Book:

Contents: 3.5+Readability: +++Utility: ++++Overall evaluation: 3.5+Medical students: ++Radiology residents: ++++Radiology fellows: 3.5+General practice radiologists: +++Subspecialist radiologists: ++

Jarrod Dale, MDUniversity of Washington

Seattle, WA

Practical Fluoroscopy of the GIand GU Tracts

Marc S. Levine, Parvati Ramchandani, and StephenE. Rubesin. Cambrige University Press, New York,2012, 224 pp., 602 illustrations, hardback, $135.00.

Practical Fluoroscopy of the GI and GU Tracts is a splendid text-

book in many ways. Initially, I wondered how this book could

be different than all of the other gastrointestinal (GI) and gen-

itourinary (GU) imaging primers. But I quickly discovered

that this text has several unique features that set it apart from

similar texts, and it is a welcome addition to my library.

The book is divided into two sections: GI tract and GU

tract. The GI section is divided by anatomy-based chapters,

which begin at the pharynx and conclude with the colon.

The GU tract is subdivided into fluoroscopic evaluation of

the bladder, urethra, and urinary diversions and retrograde

pyelography. In addition to providing a succinct but ample

discussion of radiographic findings and differential diagnoses

for the major pathological conditions of the GI and GU tract,

the authors dedicate a significant portion of the manual to

detailed but easy-to-follow descriptions of fluoroscopic tech-

niques. I personally found the technique sections to be

exceedingly helpful and a feature that sets this text apart

from other frequently used GI and GU primers, such as

Mayo Clinic Gastrointestinal Imaging Review, Gastrointestinal