Clinical Urography (3-Volume Set)

Rating:
Summary: Authoritative, definitive reference for the specialty
Review: After its initial publication in 1990, the first edition of Clinical Urography became the definitive textbook in urologic imaging. Both in breadth and depth, it was unequaled in its field. To perform the monumental task of updating this expansive work, Dr. Howard M. Pollack enlisted Dr. Bruce L. McClennan as coeditor and Drs. Ray Dyer and Philip J. Kenney as associate editors. A prestigious group of specialists, some of whom have authored uroradiology texts of their own, was then assembled to thoroughly report on the current practice of uroradiology.

Much has changed in uroradiology, as in every aspect of medicine, over the past 10 years. As a result, chapters in the first edition have been completely rewritten, and several new chapters have been added. Because this text includes both urologists and radiologists as contributors, the reader is able to gain a global overview of the diagnosis and treatment of urologic pathology because the text is not limited to just the imaging findings.

The section on interventional radiology is representative of the comprehensive nature of this text. This section alone contains 24 chapters ranging from percutaneous nephrostomies to lithotripsy. There is even a chapter on fetal obstructive uropathy.

MR imaging of the urinary tract has undergone substantial change since the publication of the first edition. State-of-the-art MR images and techniques are included in many of the chapters. Color
Doppler sonography is also contained in the appropriate chapters. Nuclear medicine evaluation of the urinary tract is thoroughly covered, which is difficult to accomplish in more focused books.
Cutting-edge techniques, such as positron emission tomography scanning, are discussed.

Overall, the quality of the more than 4000 images is outstanding. The text is very readable. References are exhaustive and would be an excellent aid in scholarly research in the field.

This three-volume tome should be in every hospital library as well as every departmental library for both radiology and urology. Specialists in uroradiology will find it to be an invaluable resource.

Shortly after this reference work was completed, Dr. Pollack unfortunately passed away. The second edition of Clinical Urography is a fitting tribute to his legacy, which is one of uncompromising pursuit of excellence in the diagnosis and treatment of urologic disease in patients everywhere.

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Mark S. Ridlen

Brown University School of Medicine Rhode Island Hospital Providence, RI 02903

Rating:
Summary: Pollack's CU is the definitive text in uroradiology
Review: After its publication 10 years ago, Clinical Urography immediately became the definitive multivolume text in uroradiology. With the additions of Dr. McClennan as co-editor and Drs. Dyer and Kenney as associate editors, the second edition actually consists of several textbooks combined into one, with contributions from around 220 authors, a substantial minority of whom are urologists.
Most of the authors are world-renowned authorities who have written about their particular areas of research and subspecialty expertise.

It is difficult to do justice to this monumental effort in a one-page review. The current edition is exceptionally well-organized and edited. The introductory section on imaging techniques is 600 pages alone, and there are entire and complete sections on developmental and congenital disorders and neuromuscular disorders, among many others. A comprehensive and highly practical section on interventional uroradiology is included. The chapter on obstructive uropathy is a small superb textbook itself, and the other chapters run the gamut from common topics, such as reflux, to obscure subjects, such as genitourinary tract brucellosis and amyloidosis.

Each chapter is extensively illustrated, and image quality, in general, is good to superior. I discovered virtually no content or typographic errors, which is particularly impressive given the length of the book, which is approximately 3,800 pages. Production values are uniformly high throughout the three volumes.

What is particularly surprising is how readable and highly practical Clinical Urography is. While it can be used as a reference work, individual chapters or long sections of the book can be read at a single sitting. There is excellent cross-referencing, and, in general, there is little repetition of material throughout the individual chapters and sections. Most of the chapters are extensively referenced, and the references, in general, have been updated.

There is an appropriate mixture of older imaging techniques and images and modern cross-sectional imaging techniques throughout the three volumes. Controversial or difficult topics, such as
renovascular hypertension, imaging of acquired renal cystic disease, and urinary incontinence, are handled in a comprehensive and balanced manner. There is excellent radiologic-pathologic correlation in the renal cystic and renal neoplastic sections. While there is not enough room to mention many of the highlights of the book, some chapters deserve special notice, including those on sonographic evaluation of the urinary tract, genitourinary tuberculosis, pediatric urinary tract infection, renal parenchymal disease, urethral and bladder trauma, and retroperitoneal fibrosis.

By design, there is a paucity of material on adult gynecologic imaging, although there is a sole chapter on gynecologic inflammatory disease. Individuals seeking comprehensive information in this area will have to refer to other textbooks. Other criticisms of the second edition are fairly minor. The chapter on radiation exposure is superficial and not geared to specific issues in urologic imaging. The chapter on conventional radiographs could have been shorter, and image quality could have been better. The chapter on lymphangiography is primarily of historic interest and could have been deleted. The discussion of scintigraphy of adrenal disease, with the exception of imaging of pheochromocytoma, is also primarily of historic interest. Also, in a few of the chapters (for example, "Retroperitoneal Tumors and Cysts"), the cases shown are fairly old and could have been updated.

The primary intended audience for the second edition of Clinical Urography is radiologists with a strong interest in the modern practice of uroradiology, as well as urologists, nephrologists, and pathologists who specialize in uropathology. The book also belongs in the libraries of all medical schools and radiology departments around the world. For a book of such depth and length, the list price of [price] is an absolute bargain.

The second edition of Clinical Urography more than achieves its stated goal in the preface, which is to serve as the source reference in urinary tract imaging. It is a testament to the incredible efforts of the late Dr. Howard Pollack, a co-editor, the associate editors, and all the varied contributors.

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Douglas S. Katz, MD