Pediatric Radiology: The Requisites

In keeping with other volumes in the Requisites in Radiology series, this 358-page book, Pediatric Radiology: The Requisites, covers the major imaging issues in pediatric radiology. There are 7 authors/contributors and 9 substantive chapters: “Chest,” “Heart,” “Gastrointestinal Tract,” “Accessory Organs of Digestion,” “Genitourinary Tract,” “Skeletal System,” “Brain Imaging,” “Spine Imaging,” and “Head and Neck Imaging.” Therefore, the last 3 chapters (written by Dr Barnes), numbering 133 pages, are related to neuroradiology and are the most complete area of the book, comprising nearly 40% of its length.

The material is covered well, with high-quality imaging and detailed information. The “Brain Imaging” chapter covers predominately congenital/developmental abnormalities (with corresponding fetal MR imaging), trauma, infection/inflammation, neurovascular disorders, tumors, the neurocutaneous syndromes, and metabolic/neurodegenerative/toxic disorders. This chapter is reasonably complete; however, one would have liked to see at least a minimum of diffusion tensor imaging or MR spectroscopy in a number of diseases states, even with the understanding that the text is dealing with the basic requisites. As an aside, the single MR spectroscopy (in Leigh syndrome) shown has nearly a cartoon appearance to it, and it is doubtful that these spectra truly represent what was obtained from the scanner in this patient. The “Spine Imaging” chapter likewise covers fetal MR imaging, showing neural tube defects (Chiari II and a myelomeningocele), congenital and developmental abnormalities of the spine and spinal cord, spinal trauma, infection/inflammation, and tumors.

What was particularly good was a substantial amount of space devoted to pediatric head and neck imaging—this chapter allows one to review diseases and developmental abnormalities not often encountered in practices outside of a dedicated children's hospital. Although the explanations of many of these lesions are abbreviated, the critical message comes through nicely, in large part because of the excellent imaging. Summaries and illustrations of abnormalities of the nasal cavity, face, temporal bone, neck, thyroid, mandible, and orbits are well selected and of high quality. Major topics of inflammation and tumors are covered and give one a starting point from which to read more extensively in pediatric neuroradiology.

From a neuroradiology standpoint, this third edition of Pediatric Radiology: The Requisites fulfills its goal of being a fundamental textbook in pediatrics. It will be of value in any radiology library and, in fact, in a department of pediatrics library.

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