530 CLINICAL RADIOLOGY

B O O K R E V I E W S

Nuclear Hepatology. Clinical and Physiological Aspects of Liver Disease by Radio Isotopes, By M. IIO, K. KITSMI, Y. SASAKI, George Thieme, Stuttgart. 1974. 164 pages. DM 118.

This is a hard back edition produced in high quality paper, and it contains 15 colour plates as well as over 300 other illustrations. It is not a conventional textbook, and after a relatively brief account of instrumentation, normal anatomy and space occupying lesions, there are more detailed accounts of the metabolism of labelled dyes such as Rose Bengal and the results of their use in discriminating between the causes of jaundice, including a good account of the constitutional jaundices. These chapters are followed by detailed accounts of cirrhosis and portal hypertension, schistosomisasis, and Wilson's disease. There is a brief account of malrotations. Finally there are 3 chapters on in vitro testing, bile salt circulation, and function of the reticuloendothetial system. Each chapter has an adequate reference list.

The book is a monograph covering the authors' interests and their intensive research over the past decade. Some of this research was done in the United States and some in Japan. The latter accounts for their unique experience of isotope techniques in schistosomiasis as well as their con- siderable interest in cirrhosis and idiopathic portal hyper- tension. The reputation of these authors is understandably high and much of their published work is recognised to have improved the understanding of pathological processes in the liver. Intrasplenic injections of radioactive colloids to investigate porto-systemic shinting in the liver; and coeliac injection of radioactive albumen aggregates to compare hepatic blood flow with splenic blood flow, are examples of techniques which have done this but which are unlikely to become widely accepted standard tests. On the other hand many of the in vitro tests and the tests of bile salt circulation have been used more widely already. The account of the latter is lucid and succint, and deserves to be read because it sharpens the radiologists understanding of some of the perplexities of small bowel contrast studies.

At first glance this is a specialised book, but there is much of general interest in it and each individual section is likely to be read widely. This is a personal and factual account of the authors' experience. As such it is really above criticism, but it seems a pity that normal appearances, and pharma- ceuticals, are not discussed a little more fully once they have been introduced. It would be interesting to have a little more guidance on the authors' view of the practical applica- tion of some of the results of the researches. There are some spelling errors and the legend of Fig. 170 is in error, but these are relatively minor points which will no doubt be corrected in future editions. If it seems premature to speak of future editions, the blame must be shared by the authors,

who justify the inclusion of some speculation by promising to produce revised editions as the speculation is resolved. There will be many who will look forward to these further editions - though not too often at a cost of DM 118.

E. RHYS DAVIES

Radiological Arias of Bone Tumours. The Netherlands Committee on Bone Tumours. Mouton & Co., The Hague and Paris. pp 327 185 Dutch guilders.

This is the long awaited second and final volume of the Radiological Atlas of Bone Tumours compiled by a very distinguished group of specialists from the Netherlands. This new work deals with benign tumours and also some miscellaneous lesions that may cause diagnostic problems. The first volume that was published a few years ago described malignant tumours. It received universal acclaim.

The present book follows a similar pattern to the first. Each section begins with a succinct account of the main features of the tumours; clinical, radiographic, pathological and therapeutic aspects are outlined. Then follows a large selection of radiographs of each condition. The examples surely must include the entire spectrum of each lesion. Some pictures are typical; others impossible!

The illustrations are of generous size and mostly show the lesions well. They are positive log-etronic prints. A few arrows could advantageously be added to some radiographs. The general format of the book does great credit to the authors and publishers. Few of the statements cause dis- agreement, though the multiple lesions shown in Fig. 20 : 12 would be grouped by most as generalised fibromatosis of bone rather than non-ossifying fibroma - a term best reserved for a solitary, or perhaps two, lesions.

My only criticism of this work is that histological sections of the individual cases are not published. I know that this would have added greatly to the size and cost of the produc- tion, but a combined atlas based on the authors' material would prove the ultimate in this field. In many examples of difficult tumours, histologists may be as puzzled as radio- logists and are not necessarily the final arbiters in dubious cases. In no way does one wish to deny the invaluable contribution to diagnosis made by the histologist, but one would have liked to have seen the histological evidence of cases such as the diffuse lesion of the tibia and fibula (Fig. 19 : 16) diagnosed as osteoblastoma and of chondromyxoid fibroma (Fig. 15 : 5) causing diffuse periosteal new bone.

Any radiologist or other doctor interested in bone turnouts will wish to read this book. It should be undoubtedly included in every library concerned with problems of the skeleton.

PHILIP JACOBS