MEDIBOOK, No. 21 (Oct. 2008), p. 9 (dgf)

Hofer, M., CT Course Book – A Workbook for Beginners. Didamed Verlag, Düsseldorf, 6th ed., 2008, 223 pages, 1,150 figures, 50 tables, 29.90 euros

What began modestly in the late 1990s as a companion textbook for the CT course as part of the “Medical Education Pilot Project” at H. Heine University in Düsseldorf has since become a classic: Matthias Hofer’s CT Course Book. A good ten years have passed since then; the CT course is now firmly established and popular with both preclinical and clinical students—and the former companion text has become a staple of introductory CT literature, now in its sixth edition.

In addition to the physical and technical fundamentals, the book covers the basics of performing a CT scan, including the contrast agents used, their indications and contraindications, and patient preparation. The richly illustrated main section first focuses on normal (CT) anatomy before discussing pathological case studies—primarily organized by body region or organ system. In addition to axial scan planes, the book also includes images from CT angiography and anatomical projections in the now-standard multiplanar reconstructions (MPR).

The usual highlights—findings and contrast medium checklists—are all included, as are updated examination protocols. Only the section on oral contrast medium administration seems to need some revision. The CT Course Book provides an efficient introduction to the challenging interpretation of CT findings, both for students and for physicians in clinical specialties who wish to familiarize themselves with CT morphology. For students in the preclinical and clinical phases of their studies at the University of Düsseldorf, it is also the ideal companion for the CT course.