Forsting M, Jansen O. MR Neuroimaging: Brain, Spine, Peripheral Nerves. Thieme; 2017; 600 pp; 1399 ill; $224.99
MR Neuroimaging: Brain, Spine, Peripheral Nerves by Michael Forsting and Olav Jansen is an English translation of the second German edition of MRT des Zentralnervensystems, which was published in 2014. This 600-page hardcover book intends to serve as a reference manual for neuroimaging interpretation.
As suggested by the title, the book is divided into 3 sections: 1) brain, 2) spinal cord, and 3) peripheral nervous system.
The first 2 sections have an introductory chapter on anatomy. MRI appearance of different structures is the focus, with several illustrations that lay a good foundation for the material to come. The chapters conclude with an abridged description of normal variants, which, if more inclusive, could have further benefitted a practitioner less familiar with neuroimaging.
The chapter on brain anatomy is followed by 9 others covering a broad range of common and unusual conditions. Pediatric neuroimaging is dealt with in a dedicated chapter.
Imaging of the spine is covered in 6 further chapters.
The third section includes a concise discussion of magnetic resonance neurography and neuropathies in the final 8 pages.
Most pathological conditions are described under the subheadings of epidemiology, clinical manifestations and treatment, pathology, MRI findings, and differential diagnosis. This systematic approach, paired with a straightforward index, makes it very easy to navigate the text.
The highlight of this book is the excellent quality of the images it uses to depict the pathology described. Multiple sequences and planes are routinely used to characterize the findings. The annotations are descriptive and easily comprehensible. The authors often discuss the best techniques and ideal sequences for optimal evaluation of imaging findings. Most pages are studded with boxes labeled “Note,” “Tips and Tricks,” or “Pitfall” and highlighted in blue, which draws the reader’s attention to interesting clinical and imaging facts.
As expected, most of the references are prior to 2012. However, the content of the book continues to be relevant to current practice. Some of the references quote articles written in German, limiting their usefulness to readers not familiar with the language. Otherwise, the fact that the text is translated from a foreign language is undetectable.
Well-organized, concise, and abundant in high-quality images, this book will appeal to radiologists and neurologists alike. Radiology residents will also find it useful as a reference book during their neuroradiology rotations. Although not a comprehensive book for a neuroradiologist, the clinical perspective it offers is valuable.
