Diagnostic and Surgical Imaging Anatomy: Musculoskeletal

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This text is the second in a brand-new series of anatomy reference texts. It contains more than 2500 labeled, color graphics and high-resolution radiologic images, with heavy emphasis on state-of-the-art images from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography. The atlas is designed to enable readers to quickly and efficiently find anatomical structures visible on imaging studies. The comprehensive compilation of musculoskeletal imaging covers the various imaging modalities—from radiographs to MR arthrography, as well as 3-dimensional musculoskeletal anatomy of the whole body. It will provide a handy and practical reference for both technologists and radiologists.

The most innovative feature of this text is the way that the information is organized. Each body area is colour coded along the edge of the page. The pages are also labeled at the edges and contain diagrams. The scheme makes it easy not only to find an area (such as the shoulder), but also to find a particular view or detail by simply flipping pages. The result of this arrangement is that a particular body part and view can be found easily and quickly. Another unusual feature of this atlas is that, for coronal and axial planes, the right and left sides of the body are shown on facing pages. For example, the axial views of the shoulder show the right side and left side on facing pages. This makes it very easy to compare the labeled images in the book with images on the screen or film.

Each section starts with a table of contents and a text overview of the anatomy. This is followed by beautifully detailed, coloured diagrams. The diagrams are followed by radiographs with explanatory text. Following the radiographs are the MR images, which make up the majority of all images. Although this atlas is useful for everyone involved in medical imaging, those in MRI will find it most beneficial. In fact this book should be very close to every MRI scanner, so that technologists can quickly and efficiently refer to the atlas to find the anatomy that they are asked to image.

One shortcoming of this atlas is that, unlike most other texts on the musculoskeletal system, there is no section on the spine. Another is that there is no discussion of physiology or pathology. This is strictly a text of normal anatomy.

Diagnostic and Surgical Imaging Anatomy: Musculoskeletal is an excellent anatomy book and a valuable reference; especially for MRI technologists. The anatomy is arranged in a very innovative form that makes finding a particular body part a fast and easy task.