The Encyclopedia Of Medical Imaging – from NICER

Edited by Holger Pettersson and David Allison

Review

A review of The Encyclopaedia of Medical Imaging requires superlatives. Truly a magnum opus, it is available either as a CD-ROM or as eight separate volumes, all of which have been created in the past 4 years. This herculean undertaking was directed by editor-in-chief Holger Pettersson with the aid of an assistant editor and associate editors of world renown in radiology, including representatives from both North America and western Europe.

The encyclopedia is not only massive in heft but also broad in scope. The 20,000 entries are arranged alphabetically within each volume, each entry consisting of at least one paragraph often accompanied by high-quality images. The images displayed encompass the full panoply of diagnostic imaging, ranging from conventional radiographs to MR images. The first seven volumes are devoted to physics techniques and procedures, normal anatomy, musculoskeletal and soft-tissue imaging (including breast imaging), gastrointestinal and urogenital imaging, chest and cardiovascular imaging, neuroradiology, and pediatric radiology. The eighth volume is an index to help the reader select the volume in which a term or condition is best described and displayed.

I am sure that the comprehensiveness and quality of this work will never be duplicated. The layout on each page is beautiful to behold, with just the right balance among the text, images, and clear space to invite the reader to browse through the pages after consulting a specific entry. Tables and differentials are included at appropriate intervals. Cross-references are made to volumes within the set rather than to specific references. The presumed intent is to provide quick references that, through encapsulated comments and examples, complement rather than displace text-books. The format allows only one or, at most, two pictures for any single entry, and thus, each image should be considered illustrative rather than definitive for any disease complex or anatomic representation.

In its Gutenberg form, The Encyclopaedia of Medical Imaging would probably best serve departmental, school, or hospital libraries because collectively it is too bulky to reside congenially in a private physician’s collection unless shelf space was vast. However, its CD-ROM version makes an attractive addition to any repository of knowledge. To the extent possible in our rapidly changing specialty, The Encyclopaedia of Medical Imaging is an up-to-date compendium with a vast array of pertinent information attractively presented. The editors ought to be congratulated for initiating and admirably completing a task of epic proportions produced for the benefit of all who want a quick look at a specific item or wish to take a leisurely stroll through a treasure trove of knowledge.