Main description:

'Understanding X-Rays' is a book planned to fill the gap between basic and advanced knowledge of Radiology.It meets the moment when a - diologist is not available,and a diagnosis is required. Each section is introduced by a chapter on 'how to 'understand'X-rays', encouraging a complete and systematic approach to radiographs focusing on every part of the image.A three-point approach is presented,consi- ing of the 'quick look',a systematic detailed scrutiny of the images,and - nally a brief look at 'review areas'. Most difficulties in interpreting radiographs do not arise from iden- fying the clearly normal or abnormal,but the huge grey expanse between. Therefore,normal variants that may masquerade as disease are discussed in detail.Likewise,common appearances,often incidental and unimp- tant,are covered thoroughly,as these appearances can readily be misint- preted as being due to significant disease. The chapters on disease entities follow a logical sequence of conge- tal, traumatic, infective, neoplastic and miscellaneous conditions. Po- traumatic sequelae are discussed in much greater detail in each section.
To limit the handbook to a pocket-sized format,certain aspects of Radi- ogy receive scant attention and some are excluded altogether.(The foll- ing are not included: physics,instrumentation,machine construction,- teriography,and ultrasound imaging of obstetrics, the eye and vascular structures.Aspects such as congenital heart disease,bone dysplasias,bone tumours and barium meal examinations are not discussed at any length).

Contents:

I Chest.- 1 Introduction - How To 'Read' Chest X-Rays.- 2 Common Appearances (Mostly Incidental and Unimportant).- 3 Disease Entities.- 4 Lists of Differential Diagnoses.- 5 X-Ray Quiz and Teaching Cases (The Chest).- II The Vertebral Column.- 6 Introduction - How To 'Read' Spinal X-Rays.- 7 Common Appearances (Mostly Incidental and Unimportant).- 8 Disease Entities.- 9 Lists of Differential Diagnoses.- 10 X-Ray Quiz and Teaching Cases (The Vertebral Column).- III Bones and Joints.- 11 How To 'Read' X-Rays of Bones and Joints.- 12 Common Appearances (Mostly Incidental and Unimportant).- 13 Disease Entities.- 14 Lists of Differential Diagnoses.- 15 X-Ray Quiz and Teaching Cases (Bones and Joints).- IV The Abdomen.- 16 How to 'Read' Abdominal X-Rays (and US, CT and MRI).- 17 Common Appearances (Mostly Incidental and Unimportant).- 18 Disease Entities.- 19 Lists of Differential Diagnoses.- 20 X-Ray Quiz and Teaching Cases (Abdomen).- V The Head and Neck.- 21 How To 'Read' Skull X-Rays (CT and MRI).- 22 Common Appearances (Mostly Incidental and Unimportant).- 23 Disease Entities.- 24 Lists of Differential Diagnoses.- 25 X-Ray Quiz and Teaching Cases (Head and Neck).- VI Miscellaneous.- 26 A Brief History of Radiology.- 27 Adverse Effects of X-Rays (Including Brief Notes on Radiobiology).- 28 Reactions to Radiological Contrast Media and Management of Reactions.- 29 Film Faults.- 30 Cross-Sectional Imaging (Ultrasound, Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging).- 31 Nuclear Medicine Imaging.- 32 Interventional Radiology.- 33 Breast Imaging.- 34 Lists of Normal Measurements in Diagnostic Imaging.- 35 List of Normal Values for Blood Tests and Other Laboratory Tests.- References and Suggested Further Reading.