668 CLINICAL RADIOLOGY

BOOK REVIEWS

Technical Aspects of Tomography. ByM. L. Durizch. Williams & Wilkins Co., Baltimore, Maryland, USA. 210 pp. $9.95.

This soft-covered book is virtually Chapter 5 of Tomography: Physical Principles and Clinical Applications by J. T. Little- ton from the same publishers. The page numbers of this book are retained, and owners of the original volume are already in possession of virtually all the information now presented.

The volume is basically aimed at radiographers, giving fairly detailed advice on tomography of parts of the skull, chest, soft tissues and peripheral and axial skeleton. Some of the tables suggesting exposure factors may be superfluous, as the author points out, because of variations in apparatus, but in general all the information is useful, and the illustra- tions of a very high order. A number of useful references are included.

The author points out the need for a very close relation- ship between technologist and radiologist in tomographic examinations, as well as adequate clinical information. It follows therefore that all radiologists should be familiar with the information in this small volume, and as it is so easy to read, trainee radiologists could do far worse than to spend an hour or so reading it.

A. E. Hugh

Synopsis of Radiologic Anatomy with Computed Tomo- graphy. By Isadore Mesehan. W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, London, Toronto, 1978. 762 pp. Price not stated.

Anatomy is basic to all clinical disciplines in medical practice and none more so than in radiology. The interpretation of each radiograph and assessment of each procedure depends almost entirely on judging the normality or otherwise of the anatomy. However, radiographic anatomy has its own speci- fic features, being flat plane shadow representations of a three-dimensional structure,

A study of radiographic anatomy, therefore, also demands some understanding of the fundamental principles involved in producing the required radiograph. Technical aspects pertain to X-ray tubes, screens, Bucky diaphragms, cones and proces- sing, while radiographic procedures are concerned with positioning of the patient and exposure factors. It is precisely the interplay of these two aspects which provides the preci- sion for showing minutiae of the middle ear or localising a foreign body in the ear.

Contrast examinations now form a major part of the work of all radiological departments. Barium meals and enemas, vascular procedures, myelograms and air studies demonstrate the anatomy of soft tissues, which was previously shown only by dissection. In addition, the new anatomy of computed tomography must now be assimilated into the body of radio- logical anatomy. Axial sections of the head and trunk obtained with this revolutionary new modality provides a

further wealth of detail. The task of presenting such a subject must be daunting in the extreme, and to have achieved it at all is praiseworthy but to have, in addition, provided an attractive, informative and comprehensive book makes it a classic in its own right. The illustrations are a model of clarity and the text is equally precise.

No radiological department or medical library can afford to be without a copy and no doubt would make an ideal present for a newly admitted Fellow to the Royal College of radiologists who, by then, will have studied it in detail.

L. Kreel

Principles of Cardiovascular Nuclear Medicine. Edited by B. L. Holman, E. H. Sonnenbliek and M. Lesch. Grune and Stratton, New York. 242 pp.

This volume is the amalgamation of a series of chapters already issued in Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases between mid 1977 and early 1978 by the same publishers. There are 11 chapters, usually under polyauthorship, each accompanied by a full bibliography. References cited usually include 1976 and occasionally 1977. There are sections on basic principles, physics and instrumentation and separate chapters on all aspects of cardiac imaging. There are numerous high-quality illustrations line drawings and step-by-step illustration of the derivation of basic equations and calculations.

The opening chapters are explicit and cover the basic facts of scintigraphic life. They would make excellent reading for those undertaking the first part of the Fellowship. Sec- tions on myocardial imaging, methods of calculating left ventricular ejection fractions and shunt detection are well written and easily followed. Those on tracer washout and radionuclide-labelled particle techniques are exhaustive and exhausting but will clearly appeal to workers at the sharp end of medical research. In common with all amalgamated works there is a tendency to repetition in the opening remarks of the chapters. However, it is well written and the average Englishman wilt soon overcome his innate abhorence of the American language when reading it. The illustrations are relevant although the line drawing accompanying Fig. 1 on page 164 has some interesting anonymous arrows drawn on it. The lack of colour is to be regretted but to be sympa- thised with on the basis of cost.

This book is clearly essential reading for all those who wish to learn the basic techniques and results obtainable in cardiovascular nuclear medicine. Hence it should appeal to cardiac physicians, radiologists and those interested in nuclear medicine who wish to start a basic service in this field. Apart from the early chapters on basic principles the book will hold little appeal for the candidate for the Fellow- ship. Those whose departments boast full cardiac scintigraphy will like to have this volume on their shelves for reference but will be aware of the expanding and fast moving nature of their field and consequently be familiar with the mass of work produced since the data reviewed in this book.

lain Watt