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

Rating:
Summary: Rad Tech's Guide Series
Review: 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