Pocket atlas of spinal MRI, Leo F. Czervionke and Victor M. Haughton. Raven Press, New York, 1989. 95 pp. $13.95
✍ Scribed by Michael T. Modic
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1990
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 50 KB
- Volume
- 16
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0740-3194
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
This atlas is, as advertised, a portable guide to the basic anatomy of the spine. The images displayed are predominantly T1 weighted spin echo, low flip angle gradient echo, and intermediate or higher flip angle gradient echo studies. The quality of the images is quite reasonable, although they do reproduce somewhat flat. The anatomic marking is easy to see and the accompanying key makes identification simple.
The major anatomic structures are well delineated on a variety of sequences throughout the spine. I believe that this atlas is best suited to use as a reference guide for medical students and house officers who are involved with magnetic resonance. I do not believe that the anatomic detail is sufficient to warrant its use by more experienced imagers or clinicians.
The first of two minor criticisms is that the text persists in labeling low flip angle gradient echo images as T2 weighted, an error. These images are in fact more spin density weighted. The second is that the common artifacts that are often confused with anatomic or pathological structures are not addressed. Specifically, Gibbs artifacts, flow changes in the CSF, and changes from ghosting are never sufficiently identified when illustrated.
In summary, I think the images and anatomic markings are quite good. The atlas would serve as a valuable introductory reference for beginning imagers and clinicians.