Saad WE, Khaja MS, Vedantham S. Vascular and Interventional Imaging: Case Review Series. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2016; 584 pp; 1000 ill; $54.99
Learning about interventional radiology is difficult for residents and practicing radiologists alike. This book showcases 170 cases ranging from the ‘bread and butter’ cases, like diagnosis and management of acute DVT, to the more esoteric, such as primary leiomyosarcoma of the IVC, portal vein access for islet cell transplant, and Abernathy syndrome. While no one book could completely cover the ever-expanding field of interventional radiology, these 170 cases are fairly comprehensive without being onerous. The majority of cases are new since the second edition. All images are of high quality. Importantly, as well, to reflect the format of the new core exam, all questions are in multiple-choice format.
In any radiology text, nothing can be more frustrating than not having arrows to label the abnormality. In interventional radiology, most cases in the real world and in testing situations are not eye tests. But, the whole point of the case can be missed if you are not sure of which area is abnormal or if you incorrectly assume you are looking at the finding. On the other hand, in a quiz book, the reader wants to peruse the images before the ‘arrow-sign’ gives away the diagnosis. This book has come up with a compromise—all initial images are unlabeled. At the end of the book is a supplemental figures section in which figures are labeled, as are subsequent intraprocedural or postprocedural images, which may have given away how to approach the case if presented earlier. This is a unique solution allowing this book to be both didactic as well as allowing the reader to quiz him or herself. In any book spanning 550 pages, entropy will creep in. Typographical and factual errors have snuck in but are, fortunately, infrequent.
The target audience for this book is clearly third-year residents preparing for their core exam. For this audience, this book is ideal and provides a nearly comprehensive review of questions that could be asked on the exam. It is this reviewer’s belief that if a resident reads and understands all 170 cases, they should have no problem passing the interventional radiology section of the core exam. It is therefore highly recommended for this audience.
There is limited neuroradiology content; only one of the cases could be considered a dedicated neuroradiology case (subclavian steal phenomena). However, if a practicing neuroradiologist also covers general call and wants to learn more about vascular imaging and intervention, this book could be useful.
