McGahan JP, Teefey SA, Needleman L. General and Vascular Ultrasound: Case Review. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2016; 376 pp; 800 ill; $59.99
The third edition of General and Vascular Ultrasound: Case Review Series (2016) by John McGahan, Sharlene Teefey, and Laurence Needleman is an update to this classic series that has helped generations of radiology residents on their paths toward board certification. While the format of the new board exam is different, these cases of varying difficulty are no less relevant than they were when we all traveled to Louisville.
A total of 127 cases are categorized as Opening Round, Fair Game, and Challenge cases. As has historically been the case, Opening Round is a great warm-up for those basic cases that should be seen early in residency, Fair Game cases offer a good review for more senior residents, and Challenge cases give upper-level residents a run for their money. Even for general radiologists in practice, reviewing all of these cases can help individuals recall forgotten tidbits of knowledge about common cases we see fairly frequently. Approaching each case as an unknown is not only entertaining, but brings back mostly fond (and some not-so-fond) memories of countless hours of boards preparation.
Each case begins with an image, a brief history, and 4 multiple choice questions about the image. The subsequent page gives the diagnosis, the answer to the questions, and a commentary which varies in format depending on the case. Cross references to The Requisites series rounds out the case, along with acknowledgments where appropriate. The images are good and a section of supplemental images is a nice addition to round out the review of each case.
I continue to highly recommend the Case Review Series, including this book, to residents studying on rotation and preparing for the boards. The information is useful and practical, and is a good review for anyone who desires a general review of this topic. The added musculoskeletal images are helpful for those not used to this topic and the pathophysiology included in the questions is very satisfying.
