Surgeons, by sheer frequency of exposure, learn the fundamentals of computed tomography (CT) scan interpretation, but so new is the field that few except the very young know the basics of the art. This book is designed to be a readable text for radiology residents and practicing radiologists, but will also serve thoracic and abdominal surgeons well. The text is clearly written, easy to understand, and well illustrated with clearly marked figures and diagrams.
The book starts with a clear description of the theory of CT scanning and works up in easy steps to such technical jargon as Hounsfield units, attenuation coefficients, image reconstruction, and artifacts. Neither its pace nor its description of the physics and mathematics involved are threatening to surgeons.
Chapters 2 and 3 deal with the thorax and mediastinum. Normal anatomy is well illustrated with high-quality figures. A useful addition is a list of differential diagnoses of