Fall 2015 (Volume 25, Number 3)

Book Review: Essential Imaging
in Rheumatology

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Editor: John O'Neill
Publisher: Springer
Date: 2015

Imaging is an essential component in both the diagnosis and management of rheumatic disease, and imaging interpretation is a skill every rheumatologist strives to master. As a rheumatology fellow, imaging was one of the most daunting and challenging areas of the specialty. Useful comprehensive resources were and are both welcome and appreciated.

A new rheumatology title, Essential Imaging in Rheumatology, is a valuable resource in our field. The book's editor is Dr. John O'Neill, an Associate Professor of Radiology at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. The other contributions are all rheumatologists from McMaster, making this a decidedly Canadian publication!

Essential Imaging in Rheumatology explores all current methods of imaging and imaging techniques related to common rheumatic symptoms and specific rheumatic diseases. This is a well-written and comprehensive resource in its coverage of the rheumatic diseases as well as its description of multiple imaging modalities, including radiographs, ultrasound, bone scan, CT, and MRI. Each section starts with an overview of the clinical aspects of the disease followed by an in-depth discussion of the imaging modalities, including examples of high-resolution images, used in diagnosis and management.

The authors have done an excellent job tying the clinical aspects of rheumatic diseases to the radiographic findings. This is an important feature for new learners as they appreciate the relationship between clinical and radiographic findings. The more experienced learner will appreciate exploring some of the more rare diseases or more esoteric radiographic findings.

This book should be recommended to all PGY-4 and -5 rheumatology trainees as essential reading. It is a concise reference source for radiologists and rheumatologists delivering up-to-date and complete information on the imaging of rheumatic disease.

Andy Thompson, MD, FRCPC, MHPE
Associate Professor of Medicine,
Division of Rheumatology,
Department of Medicine,
Schulich School of Medicine,
Western University
London, Ontario