Weissman AF. Top Score for the Radiology Boards: Q&A for the Core and Certifying Exams. Thieme; 2018; 752 pp; 924 ill; $129.99
Written primarily with senior residents in mind, this 752-page softcover book makes a strong companion to another textbook, Core Radiology by Jacob Mandell. Top Score for the Radiology Boards presents the reader with the typical scenarios encountered in ABR examinations, specifically case presentations with multiple-choice answers for each case. Questions and answers are explained, along with why the choices other than the correct answers are incorrect. Proper references and what the authors call “top tips” follow each case discussion. The case material in each section is divided into 1) essentials, 2) details, 3) image-rich, and 4) more challenging, with a varying number of cases in each of those sections. In the neuroradiology section, the cases are well chosen and the information supplied for each case is succinct and important. Importantly, the imaging shown involves not uncommonly encountered situations, which makes the material even more germane.
It was a bit humbling for this reviewer to challenge himself with cases from sections other than neuroradiology. If your department library purchases this book, challenge yourself with the material not only in neuro but within other sections. Those sections include breast, cardiac, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, intervention, musculoskeletal, neuro, nuclear medicine, pediatrics, thoracic, ultrasound, vascular, physics/safety, artifacts, and noninterpretive skills (available online with an access code).
This book should be recommended to all residents and to program directors.
