Occult Traumatic Lesions of the Cervical and Thoraco-Lumbar Vertebrae. With an Evaluation of the Role of C.T

This is a good radiological text covering occult traumatic lesions of the cervical, lower thoracic, and lumbar spine, especially for residents in radiology, neurosurgery, neurology, and orthopedics. The book reviews a topic which has not been widely covered in the literature. The major emphasis of this expanded second edition is the cervical spine, comprising seven of its ten chapters. A new chapter correlating radiologic anatomy and pathology with clinical symptoms has been added to the original edition published in 1970. Furthermore, interesting sections were included on optimal visualization techniques and demonstrations of experiments in occult traumatic lesions. In general, the quality of reproduction of radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans (as well as their discussions) are excellent. The clinician may take exception to some of the comments in Chapter VI on symptoms, such as attributing eight years of intermittent days of "blinding headaches" to a unilateral compression of C2. Overall, however, clinical comments throughout the text are both interesting and useful. Radiographic comments are, in general, excellent in the text. Good CT scan reproductions emphasize bony structures, rather than soft tissues, which is appropriate for this volume. The major emphasis of this text is on conventional radiographic views, with only a single chapter illustrating CT examinations. This is somewhat of a limitation in an era when CT scans are proving more and more useful in spinal trauma diagnosis, particularly in cases of obscure traumatic lesions. Overall, this is a useful text for residents in radiology and other concerned fields, as well as for attending physicians in related specialties. Medical students will also find this book a good introductory radiological text for cervical and thoraco-lumbar spinal trauma.