Diagnostic-Imaging Books

I own 3rd edition and the preordered 4th edition arrived yesterday. I believe every resident should have this book. However, if you already have 3rd edition, you don't need to buy the new one. There is very little revision and the companion MRI animation CD (prepared by two residents) is much inferior to the "MRI made easy" for beginner.

Also, there are serious mistakes on page 1023. The authors don't really understand binary and decimal conversion. 10000000 (8bit)=128 not 256 (which is 100000000--9bit, 11111111 (8bit)=255). The authors just don't know how to handle first binary digit. Even thought it's 2>0=1, but when you convert, you do this 0x2>0 still 0, if it 1, then 1x2>0=1. The table, the answer to the example are completely wrong. It's not just typo or inocent mistake. The author simply don't know, period. Very embarrasing for authors from Harvard.

But I still give the book 5 star. I understand every one has limitation.

This book is the bible of nuclear medicine!! Great information presented in a way that's more simple to understand.

This book is an awsome help for professionals seeking fast information regarding diagnostics tests. It is very well organized and lookups takes but a few seconds. It provides more than sufficent information to cover most needs. Can Highly recommend it.

Es un libro muy útil tanto para médicos como para Tecnólogos Médicos, los avances que ha experimentado la tecnología multidetector son impresionantes y esta publicación resulta de gran ayuda para los que estamos interezados en el tema o trabajamos diaramente en estos equipos.
Absolutamente recomendable

The following review was published in Radiology 2003; 227

Rad Tech's Guide Series [book review]
Edited by Euclid Seeram
Malden, Mass: Blackwell Science, Inc, 2001. Softcover, $20.95 each volume

Rad Tech's Guide to Radiation Protection

Euclid Seeram, ISBN: 0-86542-580-9, pp 118, 15 figures

Rad Tech's Guide to Equipment Operation and Maintenance

Euclid Seeram, ISBN: 0-86542-482-9, pp 168, 13 figures

Rad Tech's Guide to MRI: Basic Physics, Instrumentation, and Quality Control

William Faulkner, ISBN: 0-632-04505-1, pp 120, 41 figures

Rad Tech's Guide to MRI: Imaging Procedures, Patient Care, and Safety

Carolyn Kaut Roth, ISBN: 0-632-04507-8, pp 208, 44 figures

Rad Tech's Guide to CT: Imaging Procedures, Patient Care, and Safety

Deborah Lynn Durham, ISBN: 0-632-04491-8, pp 112, 18 figures

Rad Tech's Guide to Mammography: Physics, Instrumentation, and Quality Control

Donald R. Jacobson, ISBN: 0-632-04499-3, pp 136, 24 figures

The Rad Tech's Guide Series, by Blackwell Science, is composed of six softcover books between 111 and 207 pages in length. The titles in the series are Radiation Protection; Equipment Operation and Maintenance; MRI: Basic Physics, Instrumentation, and Quality Control; MRI: Imaging Procedures, Patient Care, and Safety; CT: Imaging Procedures, Patient Care, and Safety; and Mammography: Physics, Instrumentation, and Quality Control. The intended audience is radiologic technologists who are currently working in the field and those who are seeking advanced certification in one of the imaging specialties. The individual books are written by radiologic technologists and other allied health professionals.

Each book is divided into chapters that highlight key topics within each subject area. For example, the books Mammography: Physics, Instrumentation, and Quality Control and MRI: Basic Physics, Instrumentation, and Quality Control each begin with a fundamental review of the principles of modality being discussed. Data acquisition and image recording and formatting are addressed. A discussion of aspects of quality control rounds out each text. The book Equipment Operation and Maintenance includes common aspects of diagnostic imaging such as x-ray generators and tubes, scatter radiation control, fluoroscopy, and quality control.

Throughout the series, the textbooks are arranged in summary format to provide a précis for each topic. This format enhances the review aspects of the series and provides the reader with a stripped-down but accurate review of the materials. Diagrams and images are used throughout the series to illustrate important concepts.

The authors have produced a credible overview of each topic; thus the shortcomings of the series are few. The coverage of material is accurate and broad but not very deep. A reader looking for more depth on a particular topic will likely need to refer to a more comprehensive textbook. This is consistent with the explicit goal of the series, which is to provide a reference and examination review series. Though the books are softcover, the paper quality, printing, and binding are all excellent. Many of the diagrams and images are reproduced with permission from other sources. The quality of the diagrams and images enhances the text by illustrating key concepts.

A disappointment for the series is the quality of radiologic images in the books on magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography (CT), and mammography. The images are not reproduced well and lack contrast, making it difficult to discern anatomy and important details. The omission of a book dedicated to CT physics, instrumentation, and quality control is also disappointing. Nonetheless, the Rad Tech's Guide Series is overall an excellent work.

The Rad Tech's Guide Series fulfills its goals by offering a useful, concise review of important concepts in diagnostic radiology and advanced imaging modalities at a reasonable cost. Working radiologic technologists and radiologists will benefit from the excellent overview of the various topics. Furthermore, the dedication of individual books to particular topics allows readers to purchase only those works that meet their individual needs.

Reviewed by Jeffrey S. Legg, PhD, RT-R

The author is well published in this area. The production media is 'cheap' but the subject matter is clear, concise and well laid out. The author's way of thinking is clearly discernible and quite coherent. The major controversies are covered well. The section on organ radiobiology is outstanding. Possession of the texts by Pierquin, Hall and Awwad are a comprehensive guide to radiobiology.

I highly recommend this book to both clinicians and radiologists who wish to gain a more indepth understanding of the pathologic and radiographic findings of a wide variety of diseases.

Very well written and packed with clinically useful information.

a cliff notes version of radiology no fluff, all pearls. besides, my son wrote it!

By far not a perfect treatment of this subject but not bad at all, really. And also not too expensive the way medical books go nowadays.

This text is full of readily available knowledge in every area of todays radiology. It is an excellent reference for me as I am a medical transcriptionist. Valuable information on key phrases and verbage used in report dictation.