Abstract
The RadCases series follows the well-established and today very popular pattern of case-based learning method. In this book of interventional radiology, 100 well-chosen clinical cases are presented in random order. The case has a brief history and one to four images of different modalities. These are shown on odd pages and the diagnosis is then on the next even page. This order makes learning effective as you cannot see the answer in advance. In addition to the correct diagnosis, imaging findings, differential diagnostics, essential facts as well as pearls and pitfalls are presented in a very clear and concise manner. The cases are followed by 100 single best answer multiple choice questions with four to five different options. The questions correspond to the cases presented earlier and are intended to be answered after working through the cases. The last part before the comprehensive index is further reading with one to three selected references for each case.
The cases are interesting and pertinent to everyday clinical work. No rarities or extreme oddities are included. The images are general of good quality, but are in most cases too small, especially on the answer page. For example, in Case 9, two axial CT images are presented but two-thirds of the page area is empty. Also, in Case 95, the imaging findings are shown in very small images that are barely larger than a stamp. In angiographic images, the findings are often very small and subtle, and they may be hard to see even on an ordinary high-quality clinical workstation, not to mention such a small print-image. The text of differential diagnosis, essential facts, and pearls and pitfalls is extremely well-written. Abbreviations are explained and the text has all the essentials. The authors should be congratulated for such good work. The board-type questions are also of good quality. However, to make the learning experience more effective, one might consider having the answers on a separate column or page. In the current form, the correct answer can be checked too easily.
Despite the few abovementioned shortcomings, this book is highly recommended to residents and fellows in interventional radiology as well as general radiologists who wish to refresh their knowledge of this rapidly evolving and interesting field of radiology.