MARBURGER BUND ZEITUNG, No. 8, May 26, 2006, page 15
New Book Release: “Chest X-Ray Trainer”:
Interpretation of Conventional Chest X-Ray Images
Berlin (press release). Whether on night shifts, in intensive care units, or during routine ward rounds, doctors are confronted with patients’ chest X-rays several times a day. Although it is the most commonly used diagnostic method, there is surprisingly little specialized literature on the systematic interpretation of chest X-rays. This makes the news that the book *Chest-X-Ray-Trainer* follows a new, highly user-oriented approach all the more welcome: This textbook is organized exactly as the problem presents itself to the radiologist—namely, according to image morphological criteria (rather than by disease entities): For example, when examining an X-ray, the viewer may observe either a widening of the mediastinum, a pleural process, or, within the lung, a focal, diffuse, or streaky-reticulated opacity. Based on this initial situation, a differential diagnosis must first be developed. So, at first glance, the image does not reveal whether the condition is “pneumoconiosis,” a “tumor,” or “inflammation”—unfortunately, however, most other textbooks on the subject are organized according to these categories. In this book, however, bronchial carcinoma, for example, is discussed in four different chapters: Once as perihilar mediastinal widening, as a focal mass, and as diffuse (atelectasis following tumor-induced bronchial obstruction) or as streaky-reticular (in lymphangiosis carcinomatosa) opacity—very user-friendly.
Sketches make the work easier
The abundance of illustrations, including numerous sketches of complex findings, makes working through the book a pleasant and efficient experience. There’s no need to flip through pages, since the images and accompanying text are always clearly presented on the same page. Each chapter begins with specific learning objectives, and at the end of each chapter, readers can test their understanding with challenging quiz questions. Advanced readers will appreciate the chapters on the identification and verification of foreign materials (heart valves, catheters of all types, endotracheal tubes, and even IABP balloon pumps) and, in particular, those on critical care medicine. In addition, the book includes detailed, illustrated instructions for central venous catheter placement and pleural drainage/puncture, broken down into clear, step-by-step procedures. Removable checklists and standard value tables in lab coat pocket size round out the concept. Given its length (224 pages, DIN A4) and quality, the price of 24.90 euros is unbeatable.
Bibliography: M. Hofer (ed.): Chest-X-Ray-Trainer, Diagnosis of Chest X-Rays
Didamed Verlag, Düsseldorf 2006, 224 pages, 29.90 euros
ISBN 3-938103-00-0