Medibook No. 21 (Oct. 2008), page 9 (dgf)

Chest X-Ray Trainer – Diagnosis of Chest X-Rays
Didamed Verlag, Düsseldorf, 2nd edition 2008, 224 pages, 750 figures, 50 tables, 29.90 euros

Despite the rapid advances in imaging techniques, the conventional chest X-ray remains one of the most important diagnostic methods. This is especially true in acute diagnostics, whether for preoperative assessment of cardiopulmonary findings or for evaluating possible traumatic injuries to the thoracic organs. The frequency with which a so-called “chest X-ray” is presented to a clinician is rarely proportional to the ability of students and non-radiologists to systematically analyze and describe the image and ultimately arrive at a conclusive diagnosis.

This book from Didamed addresses this very issue and provides readers—whether students or physicians in other specialties—with the fundamental rules for interpreting conventional chest X-rays, while seeking to sharpen their eye for detail in order to arrive at a reliable analysis. Anyone familiar with the “CT Course Book” from the same publisher will recognize many of the same didactic approaches here—and those who appreciated that book will not be disappointed here either: the various diseases and injuries of the thoracic cavity are presented systematically. The Chest X-Ray Trainer was developed as a companion volume to a student course that is highly popular due to its clinical relevance and can help students develop fundamental diagnostic skills early on. In addition to an image quiz for self-assessment, the book contains detailed descriptions with practical tips on placing central venous catheters and chest drains—which brings us full circle, since these procedures are common indications for performing a chest X-ray! In short: Anyone who wants to systematically and confidently interpret the ubiquitous chest X-ray images should definitely take a look at the “Chest X-Ray Trainer.”