680 CLINICAL R A D I O L O G Y

Book Reviews

Lung and Pleura. By 1-1. Bohlig. Year Book Medical Publishers Inc., London, 1980. 141 pp. £9.95.

I should say at the outset that if I were to suffer haemopWsis I would insist on being examined by a radiologist such as Dr Bohlig. He would have initially discussed my history with the referring chest physician, then he would perform a physical examination of my chest. Next would come PA and lateral radiographs (and possibly obliques). I get the firm impression that these radiographs would be of the highest radiographic quality. He would probabty use fluoroscopy to sort out any worries that had arisen so far. He would move heaven and earth to obtain any of my previous films. His report would begin with a detailed description of the abnormal findings and then give a balanced opinion as to the likely cause. All this is, of course, a most laudable practice and this book explains how he goes about his business. So the book should be expected to be of use to a trainee radiologist or medical student although, as the author states, it is primarily aimed at the general practitioner.

Sadly there are several reasons why I find difficulty in giving this work more than a lukewarm recommendation. Firstly, there are the inevitable difficulties which have arisen from the translation not only of the text, but also the practice of medicine, from German to English. For example what are 'house cases" (p. 14)? Are they patients who have radio- graphs obtained with portable machines in their homes (a practice which has all but died in this country) or are they patients who are so ill that mobile machines are needed to obtain bedside radiographs in various parts of the hospital/ clinic/house ? I found the words radiable (p. 64) and radi- ability (p. 80) difficult to understand. Then there are prob- lems caused by the fact that this book is a translation of the second German edition (1975). I could excuse no mention of the newer techniques such as CT, but surely tuberculosis is now responsible for less than 5% of effusions in the elderly (not tess than 50%, p. 49). That the thymus is responsible for the wide mediastinum in the newborn is now widely accepted, although mediastinal pleuritis is still discussed (p. 37). All of which makes me wonder how the 1975 second edition compares with 1970 first edition.

On the positive side the wealth of experience gained by a senior chest radiologist is there for all to see. The line draw- ings are superb and more than make up for problems in the text. The price is attractive and this flexible, seemingly indestructible paperback (called a flexibook) has survived for a fortnight in the pocket of my white coat.

As this book is not primarily aimed at radiologists it may be unfair to be too harsh. It could be of some use to the

trainee radiologist (resident), early in his career, especially if he was to concentrate mainly on the excellent diagrams. Whether the English text and diagrams will entice the general practitioner, the non-radiologist or medical student, time alone will prove. I rather fear not.

Adrian Dixon

Pancreatic Disease in Clinical Practice, Edited by C. J. Mitchell and J. Kelleher. Pitman, 1981. 432 pp. £30.

This book is based on a symposium on the investigation and management of pancreatic disease held in 1980 at Leeds, the scope being broadened by additional topics of current interest.

It is divided into two sections, one of seven parts on diag- nosis and the other six parts on management of pancreatic disease each written by an acknowledged expert in that field. Part 1, Pancreatic Imaging, contains chapters on Radionuclide Imaging, Ultrasonography and Computed Tomography. Sur- prisingly radiology is separated from imaging as part 2 with chapters on angiography and endoscopic retrograde cholangio- pancreatography (ERCP). Parts 3 - 5 deal with morphological investigations, function testing, biochemical and supplemen- tary investigations, the section finishing with part 6, a masterly overview of current pancreatic investigations.

The second section has six parts dealing in both children and adults with acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, carcinoma, transplantation and current controversies.

The aim of the book is to complement and update the standard textbooks and this has been achieved. All the chapters are readable, well referenced and where appropriate, as in ERCP, well illustrated. Radiologists who are expert in this field may find little that is new in the chapters on imag- ing but a wealth of information in other parts enabling them to clarify and reassess the role of their techniques. Those with more catholic interests will find the whole of the first section of value. Some chapters contain statements that are controversial, for instance surgical drainage of the duct in chronic pancreatitis is only possible if it is dilated. However, this is to be expected in a field where techniques and ideas have developed rapidly in the last decade. The volume is strongly recommended for all radiologists and clinicians with an interest in the pancreas in spite of the price which may prove a deterrent to others.

M. I. Lavelle