Best radiologic & ultrasound technology books according to redditors
We found 64 Reddit comments discussing the best radiologic & ultrasound technology books. We ranked the 44 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Learning Radiology is a dope ass book and I highly recommend it.
As for free resources, check out the big online radiology websites like Radiopaedia which have tons of cases and some "how-to's" for certain things. And of course, Learning Radiology does have some of the tutorials for free, but they are much more comprehensive in the book, and the book has way more sections than the website.
Otherwise, Youtube is also your friend.
I'm not sure what level your skills are. Most of the best online resources come from the EM side, and those limit themselves mostly to the basics of OB and pelvic ultrasound.
OSU is pretty well known for their ultrasound curriculum, and has a nice website. Like I said - limits itself to the basics. They also have an app for iPhone that's actually really good, too, and walks you through the exams.
Mount Sinai has probably a better website and even has an algorithm for the EM physician to use for a pelvic ultrasound. But I don't know if that's sufficient for what you might be looking for.
As far as textbooks, the standard in EM is Ma and Mateer's. But the info in it is essentially as found above, if a bit better and fleshes it out significantly, but still. If you're looking to be hands-on with the (transabdominal) probe and buy a butterfly and do things yourself in office, maybe this is exactly what you need.
But I anticipate that you might need a more OBGyn focused reference text like the School Textbook of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Or Callen's Ultrasonography in Obstetrics and Gynecology, which is a bit more robust.
Well, it depends on how hard you are willing to work,
Lazy and just want to kinda get used to terminology:
Learning Radiology by Herring
Willing to put in 2-3 hours every day during the rotation which by the way is entirely feasible since med students definitely aren't doing more than 40 hours a week, most do like 30 during a rads rotation. Use Core Radiology
Difficultish: Brant and helms, the harrisons of radiology. But unlike harrisons where legit everything is covered, if you really want to learn radiology you have to get subspecialty specific textbooks like the requisities series. That said, this is what I used back in the day during med school and I definitely don't regret it. I've read through core radiology as well, they are kinda similar in content, but B&H is a bit more formal and teaches radiologist principles better. If you are going into radiology, this is the textbook to buy since you'll probably use it in residency during PGY-2.
And in general, you are never going to read the entire textbooks during med school, but for IM or EM docs, Core could be super useful even though it will be beyond them for certain topics.
For physics, this is my favorite book by far. It can be a bit dense, and some in my opinion more ignorant radiologists who dislike extensive physics don't like it as much, but I learned during training physics makes the radiologist. Even among radiologists, too many doctors make basic physics mistakes that lead to misdiagnosis, especially with things like nuclear imaging. I frequently overread cardiologist and GI nuc imaging and am kind of appaled by the complete lack of basic radiation understanding. That said...
Here are the amazon links, you can probably find pdfs to some of the books and those that aren't you can probably find in your hospital library.
https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Radiology-Recognizing-Basics-3e/dp/0323328075/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500633396&sr=8-1&keywords=radiology
https://www.amazon.com/Core-Radiology-Approach-Diagnostic-Imaging/dp/1107679680/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1500633396&sr=8-2&keywords=radiology
https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Diagnostic-Radiology-Set-Brant/dp/1608319121/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1500633979&sr=1-1&keywords=brant+and+helms
Specifically for MRI:
https://www.amazon.com/Duke-Review-MRI-Principles-Case/dp/1455700843/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1500633869&sr=1-1&keywords=duke+MRI
^Great book for the basics of MRI artifacts and connects visual artifacts to the physics, although learning how to differentiate between artifact and pathology is going to take a residency ;). Also, make sure to get the online version because the paper edition is shit quality.
Yea, so all in all, everyone can find a book that will satisfy their level of interest in radiology, and of course, you get out what you put in. You put in a lot of time in the rotation, that is your decision and I think it was worth it. I learned more of my physics principles during my rotation(although it helped I was an engineer) than residency, so when it came time to take physics CORE, I didn't have to study. Physics CORE is basically the step 1 of radiology, the exam can be hard as shit, and unlike step 1, there is no UFAP or UWORLD lol.
Radiology textbook can be obscure in that they often don't explicitly mention physics principles, so if you don't them, you can't truly appreciate a textbook in my opinion, and how I studied radiology basically was I always had four textbooks open at any given time.
Robbins for pathophysiology, Whatever radiology textbook I was using, a copy of Netters, and maybe an embryology review book if I felt it was necessary. Never steered me wrong, radiology and anatomy textbooks open at all times are especially important, but try to keep the anatomy book and pathophys book closed while "interpreting" the textbook, only to re-correlated after you have thought about it and read a section to get a second more in depth look.
Costantly reminding yourself of principles is important and often missed. I am sure all of you know radiology is one of the most basic science heavy specialties, so reviewing your basic sciences, even well beyond medical school, makes for a fantastic radiologist.
However be careful not to get attached to any given textbook as well, you can't exactly have netters and robbins with you in the reading room.
My two cents:
Realistically at the medical student level the most important study to be able to interpret is going to be a chest x-ray. So, if you’re looking for resources to go past the general anatomy and “approach to a chest x-ray” I would recommend Felson’s Principles of Chest Roentgenology.
It’s a ‘programmed text’ like Dubin’s for EKGs, and goes through pathology topic by topic, with lots of opportunity to practice interpretation and to see if you are right or wrong. It’s a relatively quick read and there are lots of practice cases at the end as well.
I stressed interpretation before because, sure you may have a test question about the difference between an epidural vs. subdural bleed, but it’s not like you are going to be interpreting CTs or MRIs.
Knowing the underlying anatomy and the differential for the pathology would probably be a better use of your time than going through any of the introductory texts like Learning Radiology: Recognizing the Basics or Squire’s Fundamentals of Radiology. (My point here being that you need to know what you are looking at if you are actually going to be able to make sense of a study.) If you were considering radiology, one might be nice to have as a reference, but again, I do not think actually trying to read through the whole thing would be a good use of time.
Without cases to practice with, a lot of that knowledge probably will not stick. Whenever you have the chance, trying to look at a film before reading the radiologist’s report to test yourself can be helpful, as is trying to actively correlate what you see on the film compared to the clinical exam.
After having a good knowledge of chest x-rays, your next most common scenarios that require interpretation would probably be emerg related - again chest x-rays will be super common, but others like abdo series, extremity skeletal trauma, cervical spine, etc. will be useful.
Having said that, there are online resources like “Introduction to Radiology” from the University of Virginia or Radiology Masterclass.
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TL;DR:
Learning Radiology by Herring is a good beginner's book.
Learning Radiology: Recognizing the Basics, 3e https://www.amazon.com/dp/0323328075/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gjZZxb5SK7XPW
MRI in Practice by Catherine Westbrook is, by far, the easiest read to understand MRI. It is also the best priced book for MRI studies.
http://www.amazon.com/MRI-Practice-Catherine-Westbrook/dp/1444337432/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413580430&sr=8-1&keywords=MRI+practice
http://www.iacionline.net/ is a great quiz site, but you do have to pay for an account. A few of us got together and split $ for an account.
You may want to brush up on your sectional anatomy and pathology along with the textbook.
And you may want to check the requirements for the exam - it seems like ARRT may add on more stuff:
> Beginning January 1, 2016, candidates must also document completion of 16 hours of structured education. Learn more about ARRT’s education requirements.
https://www.arrt.org/Certification/Magnetic-Resonance-Imaging
I took my registry in August 2013, and I recall that there was a lot of pelvis anatomy (female/male), calculcating phase/matrix/ETL. The test won't tell you if a particular parameter is T1/T2 weighted, so you'll have to look at the numbers that they give you (figure it out first), then answer the actual questions. Learn the cranial nerves and make sure you know the TE/TR values for white matter, gray matter, blood, CSF, etc.
(Come back and look at this post when you get closer to taking the MR registry.)
I'm not the best at math/physics, so I believe that patient safety, equipment, anatomy and pathology saved me!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0323065902/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1417294411&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40
This book got me through the registry with flying colors. I hear good things about the MIC, but it was too pricy for me when there are options like this one that are so good and so affordable. Pro tip, though - the online content it comes with is really convenient, but the tests in the back are the ones I found to be most pertinent.
I agree with everything said in this thread, but to add some things:
I strongly recommend a good particle physics course. If you can think about the basic things in our field automatically in terms of Feynman diagrams and you know the rules of certain force interactions (everything but gravity being important, with EM and Weak force interactions slightly more important than strong in our field), I've found that helps me to understand the empirical/applied stuff a lot better.
I would seek to shadow as many medical physicists from as many different specialties as possible. It'll let you decide if you really want to be/what specifically you want to do in our field, as well as look good on any resume. I'd shoot for at least one shadowing session of clinical physicists in radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, and diagnostic imaging each, as well as a health physicist, and an undergrad internship at a company like Varian or Elekta (look to the AAPM for undergrad opportunities/funding). Some physicists appreciate teaching people while others don't, so don't give up if you're turned down on a cold call, but don't cold call the same person twice.
As a bonus, read Kahn, Attix, and Hall, if you have time. For Nuclear Med, I'd recommend Cherry, and for Diagnostic Imaging I'd recommend Bushburg. Definitely start with Kahn as it is the easiest to digest IMO. I'm sure others have book recommendations as well. Though, I wouldn't bother until you've at least taken your entry level classical mechanics and E&M courses, even then a lot wont click until you've taken Quantum 1.
Edit: oh also experience in programming will help. Matlab and/or python seem to be base in our field, though C++ cant hurt.
Learning Radiology by Herring is a great basic book, written at the level of med students: https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Radiology-Recognizing-Basics-3e/dp/0323328075
These guys do a pretty good course in Harrow if you're UK based, book comes with it. I like it a lot, focused and to the point.
Accident & Emergency Radiology: a survival guide
Merrill and Bontrager tend to be recommended by Americans, most of us Brits go for Clark's Positioning in Radiography.
Not read the 13th edition of the big boy book myself (basically everywhere has 12th edition, and I am not paying for a new one lol), but the only thing I disagree with in the first edition (since updated to 2nd edition) of the [little baby handbook for students and such] (https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Clarks-Handbook-Radiographers-Companion-Essential/1498726992/ref=pd_sim_14_5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=R5H91P80E0SZ5ZKVP0QH) was the ankle section, they describe a correct mortice view, but then the demonstrated image has their centring... somewhat high... :v
The main other book I consider a "must have" is Accident and Emergency Radiology, but as an ortho resident, you are likely past that (it is basic image interpretation, suitable for a junior doc or the average band 5/6 radiographer), though you might consider giving it a flick through anyway, it's not a long read, and is a very good quality book.
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Edit: Interesting thing about Clark's - go back a few versions from the 12th edition and they were inexplicably using nude patients in a solid half of the demonstration images, flicking between covered and uncovered for seemingly no reason. God knows why. In any of the modern ones, they are all wearing swimsuits, at least!
https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Radiology-Recognizing-Basics-3e/dp/0323328075/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510081056&sr=8-1&keywords=radiology+books
and this if you like the style of Dubin's EKG book for chest x-rays:
https://www.amazon.com/Felsons-Principles-Roentgenology-Programmed-Goodman/dp/1455774839/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1510081108&sr=1-2&keywords=chest+roentgenology#reader_1455774839
Anyone have thoughts on how to go about learning the very very basics of radiology? I'm awful at anything black/white/grey (CTs, MRIs, x-rays, etc.). I've read through a couple of posts, but I'm not sure it's worthwhile going through an entire book?... fwiw, I have 8 weeks until Step 1 with 5 of those being dedicated.
Any other resources people recommend?
Accident and Emergency Radiology Best for plain films in the ED
This is the correct answer. http://amzn.com/0323065902
RootimusPrime: This is all you need. If you're lacking in the cross sectional anatomy then it couldn't hurt to pick up a book on that. If the only thing that you study is the book that I linked, you will easily pass.
EDIT - I took the registry in 2011 so my experience may be more recent than most. "May" being the key word.
If you want to get a good look at the tech aspect, you can check out this handbook:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0323083897/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This is the version I have, but the older ones are basically the same. Lots of techs have one of these books with them on site -- in their locker or on person. They include almost all of the positions/x-rays and it can fit in your pocket.
Another good book is this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451115652/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Rather than a reference book like the other, this one is a good read. It explains how x-rays work and how we can improve our images. Go ahead and skip anything about film, though.
Yes, want a discount code?
http://www.amazon.com/Radiology-Review-Manual-Dahnert/dp/1609139437/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344551653&sr=1-1&keywords=Dahnert
that book, right?
Nuclear pharmacy is pretty cool. I did two electives (from the guy who literally wrote the book - this one - on nuclear pharmacy), a rotation and an internship. I'd be happy to tell what I know about it. Any interest? Any specific questions?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/149637732X?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image
This is all I used. Passed with flying colors in June.
MRI tech here, studying for MR registry, have my CT already.
If you already have your Xray license, the CT registry is not that hard, since you already know the physics etc. If you have to pick one to take a course in, I'd pay for the full course in MRI and just learn CT from a book. I used this one, and the Mosby's exam review to show me where I needed to practice.
Computed Tomography for Technologists: A Comprehensive Text (Lois Romans)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0781777518/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_WELnybZSDQ5GY
But take the CT registry first, before you confuse yourself with MRI physics. Cross-sectional anatomy is broadly similar but every single other thing about MR is completely new information.
That is a good one to use. Especially the online practice quizzes. This is a good book too http://www.amazon.com/Computed-Tomography-Technologists-Comprehensive-Text/dp/0781777518
Yes Merrill's is what my university utilizes and stands by. I may suggest an updated copy or just know of any revisions as some angulations/centering may have varied. Another good test prep book is Mosby's review guide (Mosby's Comprehensive Review of Radiography: The Complete Study Guide and Career Planner https://www.amazon.com/dp/0323354238/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_4S0XCb536TP1F)
Also ARRT has content specifications that suggest areas to know.
There's literally a book titled "Top 3 Differentials in Radiology," and it's killer... maybe not solely for ortho though ‹•.•›
https://www.amazon.com/Top-Differentials-Radiology-Case-Review/dp/1604062266
Yeah, my dude -- I feel where you're coming from.
There are actually some therapies that use hyperthermia RF sources to heat up and destroy tissue, but for stuff like radiation therapy acts in a really cool way.
For radiation therapy, a major way to kill cells is by destroying their DNA. DNA is wrapped in a double helix, and if you destroy one strand of it, the cell has a good way to repair. But if both strands are destroyed, then depending on where you are in the cell cycle, the cell may not know how to properly fix the DNA and you can get mutations. Theoretically at the cell checkpoint before it divides, the cell that is mutated will be detected, and it won't be able to pass the checkpoint and will effectively die.
Now, granted, sometimes these mutations do go through. And if the DNA is mutated in the wrong way, then you can develop cancer.
As radiation passes through the cell it deposits an average energy per unit length (or, kinda weirdly, an average length per unit energy). This energy depends on the type of radiation. When this average energy is deposited at approximately twice per width of DNA strand, it deposits energy at the right spots to create a double strand break. The type of radiation that's most effective here is alpha particles. But gamma rays (and even moreso at lower energy gamma rays) are a little less effective.
I personally don't think RF is dangerous from a biological standpoint . But it'll be interesting to see if there are any effects down the road, considering cell phones haven't been around for long enough to track stochastic effects and cancer.
For anyone interested: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/radiation-exposure/cellular-phones.html
Also, this page on radiobiology might be a fun start: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiobiology
Personally I used this book https://www.amazon.com/Radiobiology-Radiologist-Eric-J-Hall/dp/1608311937
It's aimed more at physicists than biologists, so I found it enlightening.
https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Radiology-Recognizing-Basics-3e/dp/0323328075
A great review book I used was Mosbys Rad Review. I highly recommend it and use it throughout your program. I wish I would have gotten it a lot sooner than this previous April (I graduated a couple days ago) and it really helped me with the registry. It would have helped out a lot with the Physics portion of the program too.
For what purpose are you interested in the topic?
This book gives you an idea of anatomy for CT...
CT Teaching Manual: A Systematic Approach to CT Reading https://www.amazon.com/dp/3131243546/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Ob7ODb6NNPJTQ
Not sure about any videos though.
As a medical student, chest X-rays and basic head CT pathology is all you really need to have a basic understanding of. The only people who are actually good at advanced imaging are the people who look at it every day
Your program will have specific textbooks and materials for you to follow, so I would recommend that you check with your local library and online resources before committing to purchase any of the following:
You may also try some online resources such as the radiography wiki.
As for anatomy of the human Hippocampus, you could look for this in your library.
This book covers a wide array of topics including human and rat hippocampal formations and processes, spatial learning and quite a bit more. Hope this helps
Looking for 1 textbook in PDF form. 5$ Via Paypal.
Introduction to Radiologic and Imaging Sciences and Patient Care 6th edition.
ISBN-13: 978-0323315791
ISBN-10: 0323315798
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MRI in Practice