Radiography in the Digital Age: Physics - Exposure - Radiation Biology
This large textbook is intended as a teaching manual for radiography students. It covers the physics, exposure and radiation biology curriculum for undergraduates. The vast bulk of the text deals with basic x-ray image formation, with approximately 200 pages devoted to specific digital issues. The book is primarily concerned with plain radiography - modalities such as CT, MRI and ultrasound are not covered.A classic textbook format is used to present the material. Each chapter starts with an interesting image, then proceeds to cover the relevant subject matter in relatively short subsections. Chapters end with review questions, the answers to which are given at the back of the book. The book also has a reasonable index but no biblio-graphy. Each chapter is copiously illustrated with figures that are generally of good quality,The section of the book that deals with digital imaging starts with the basics of computers and the binary system. It covers CR and DR image production and processing very comprehensively. The author coins the term `dexel' to assist in explaining the difference between voxels, pixels and detector elements. Furthermore, the technology used in digital image acquisition and display is also well presented.The book also contains two very useful chapters covering radiation biology at both the cellular and organism level.Unfortunately the book was prepared prior to the new ICRP recommendations on radiation induced cataracts so the information presented in the book is now incorrect in that respect.American students are clearly the target audience for the textbook. In general non-SI units are used for radiation dose but, on occasions, rads and grays are used interchangeably, This can be quite confusing for undergraduate students. Also the terms `kv' and 'kev' are used in different parts of the text to denote photon energy which compounds the confusion.Furthermore, there is an emphasis on reports (NCRP, AAPM etc) of American origin but no mention of EU directives. Some of the material covered is very basic for entry level students in this part of the world and some of it is a bit dated.The author has included a considerable amount of material from some of his previous works.This is a very useful reference book but, in my view, unsuitable for use as a textbook in European radiographic training centres. --Dr Michael Casey, radiation protection advisor, Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, St Vincent's University Hospital, DublinRadiography in the Digital Age: Physics-Exposure-Radiation Biology is a very thorough, well-written textbook that explains in great detail the basic sciences of modern digital imaging acquisition and post-processing. In this excellent book, along with its available student workbook, Quinn B. Carroll, MEd, RT, creates a book written by technologists for technologists, with an emphasis on radiography in the digital age. The author s goal is to create a book that radiography technology students can use to learn and reference all major aspects of modern digital radiographic imaging.This excellent book is organized into five distinct parts. In part 1, The Physics of Radiography, 10 chapters provide the reader with the necessary foundation of basic math and science skills needed to fully understand modern digital imaging. Part 2 Production of the Radiographic Image, presents an in-depth discussion of the x-ray beam and its interactions with the patient, subject contrast, and proper use of radiographic technique. Part 3, Digital Radiography, includes eight chapters covering the physics of digital image capture, extensive information on digital processing techniques, and the practical applications of both computed radiography and digital radiography. Part 4, Special Imaging Methods, includes three chapters: Mobile Radiography and Tomography, Digital Fluoroscopy, and Quality Control. Part 5 contains five dedicated chapters covering radiation biology and protection.Each of the chapters is well organized and enhanced with an abundant amount of radiographic images, figures, tables, and illustrations. Each chapter concludes with a summary section, written in an abbreviated, bullet-type format, to reinforce the most important concepts in a given chapter. A variable number of review questions are provided at the end of each chapter and are geared to the radiograph technology student. An optional instructor and laboratory manual, available to instructors of radiography technology courses, provides the answers to the chapter review questions. This manual also contains more than 1450 multiple-choice questions and answers that an instructor can use for testing students. Nine of the 42 chapters contain pragmatic practice exercises, the answers to which are provided in an appendix. These practice exercises should greatly assist the radiography technology student in preparing not only for board examination but also for his or her future practice as a certified technologist. Another appendix further explains specific exercises presented in chapter 25. The text concludes with an easy-to-reference index.Radiography in the Digital Age: Physics-Exposure-Radiation Biology is a well-organized, detailed textbook that is up to date. With more than 640 illustrations and numerous radiographic images, the book would be an extremely valuable reference to a radiology technology student as well as to a practicing technologist. The book is well balanced with regard to the amount of written text and the accompanying figures and images.An optional student workbook, which was also authored by Quinn B. Carroll and is available for an additional cost, is entirely organized in a fill-in-the-blank format. The questions presented closely match the context presented in the above-referenced textbook as well as in an optional PowerPoint slide presentation. The author suggests that the student workbook be used for in-class use, homework use, and final reviews and self-testing. The workbook contains 42 chapters and just over 300 pages.The author has clearly met his goal of creating a textbook by and for radiology technologists. The cost of this well-written book is very reasonable. I highly recommend Radiology in the Digital Age: Physics-Exposure-Radiation Biology and the accompanying student workbook. --Reviewed by Robert D. Stoffey, DO