Radiology for Surgeons

Rezensionen / Stimmen

Looking at the title, it was not without some trepidation that I opened the cover. However, as two of it's authors have a proven track record in providing texts in diagnostic imaging, and the third is a consultant surgeon, I should have known better. "Imaging for Surgeons" gives little clue to the nature of this excellent book. Rather than being a "This is what you need to know" book written by Radiologists for Surgeons, this is instead an excellent set of well-illustrated picture tests in surgical imaging. Yes, the clinical scenarios make the likely diagnosis fairly obvious, but the real strength of the book lies in the in-depth additional questions supplied with each of the 95 images. So, while you might spot the fracture of the cervical spine, do you know what imaging to ask for next, what classification of injury is, and what are the basic principles of treatment? The images themselves are of excellent quality, covering a range of General, Vascular, Urological, Othopaedic and Neurosurgical cases. As well as plain radiography, there has been a judicious use of CT, MRI, ultrasound images, diagrams and even pathology specimens. While the reader will not leave this book enlightened about the finer points of MRI their basic knowledge of surgical radiology will be significantly tested, and probably greatly enhanced. The preface to this book sets out the primary aim of this book as an aid to the MRCS examination. The additional questions with each case scenario would sit comfortably on the lips of many an examiner. Oh, to have had this as a primer before my part 2B! The scope and depth of this book is such that it also make an excellent text for groups as diverse as medical students approaching their finals to surgical trainees approaching exit examinations. Radiologists in training would find much in here that would greatly enhance their knowledge and understanding of the relevance of the tests they are asked to perform. If I were to criticize t This short question-and-answer book of classic X-rays is aimed at the basic surgical trainee who is to undertake the MRCS in general surgery (old-style FRCS) of the UK Royal Colleges of Surgeons. The authors have particularly directed it to these candidates in preparation for oral and clinical examinations. The authors include two radiology registrars from St Mary's Hospital in London. The book consists of 95 X-rays, which are not arranged in any particular order. Following each X-ray there is usually a series of four or five questions requiring recognition of the type of X-ray and the pathology demonstrated and then related questions on clinical features, aetiology, pathogenesis, classifications, complications and management. Because 95 different topics are included a broad range of topics is examined. The text therefore provides a useful review mechanism for the student about to undertake the aforementioned examination. The scope is, however, extremely broad and although the majority consists of general surgery, there are significant areas of orthopaedics, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery and even aspects of paediatric surgery. For this reason the scope of the book is much broader than would be expected for equivalent examinations in Australasia and, accordingly, this text is perhaps less useful for trainees undergoing equivalent examinations in Australasia. The book contains many 'classics', including commonly examined topics such as pharyngeal pouch, gallstone ileus, sigmoid volvulus, and computed tomography (CT) images of a ruptured spleen. The book is clearly not meant to be encyclopaedic and as such many areas are omitted. Examples that one perhaps might have expected for inclusion would be an ultrasound showing cholelithiasis, an ultrasound showing a breast cyst, and perhaps more images of CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. No nuclear medicine images are included in the text. The reader will enjoy going through this question-and-a.