Chest Radiographic Interpretation in Pediatric Cardiac Patients. Shin-Joon Yoo, Cathy MacDonald, Paul Babyn, eds. Thieme, 2010, 317 pages, 420 illustrations, $99.95.

Despite advances in cross sectional evaluation of cardiovascular system over the past decades, radiographic evaluation of the pediatric cardiac patient remains an important component of both the initial as well as the follow up evaluation due to its relative ease of use and convenience. Chest radiographs are still an important component of initial evaluation as well as throughout follow up of the pediatric cardiac patient. Radiologists need to be familiar with the cardiac anatomy, function, and congenital heart disease as well as surgical techniques utilized in order to get involved in the effective management of the pediatric cardiac patient.

Chest Radiographic Interpretation in Pediatric Cardiac Patients is well illustrated with more than 400 high-quality radiographs, drawings, and specimen photographs and many case examples.

The book is 420 pages and consists of three sections. Section One deals with normal cardiovascular anatomy, segmental approach to congenital heart disease, basic cardiac function and hemodynamics, and a chapter dedicated to pediatric cardiovascular surgical procedures. It also includes a chapter dedicated to optimization of radiographic technique for better image quality while reducing radiation exposure from radiographs.

After this introductory text, Section Two is dedicated to interpretation of chest radiographs in children with congenital or acquired heart disease with a systematic approach.

Section Three deals with concise bulleted synopses of individual heart diseases that include pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and chest radiographic findings as well as multiple case examples per disorder discussed.

Although the coverage of this book is not directed specifically to the neuroradiologist, it is an excellent review for radiology residents, fellows, and any radiologist or pediatrician interested in a deeper understanding of pathophysiologic basis of clinical and radiographic findings and radiographic manifestations of heart disease pediatric patients.

It will be a valuable addition to a radiology or pediatric departmental library.