Chest Imaging in Practice

In this book the authors will build on the success of Chest X-ray Made Easy. They will continue to use non-technical language by explaining X-rays in terms of black and white. However the purpose of the book will be somewhat different. Whilst 'Easy' explained how to interpret a chest X-ray, this book will explain how to use a chest X-ray. Its approach will be symptom orientated rather than image orientated. Thus the reader will be shown the usefulness of X-rays in the investigation of the common symptoms outlined in the contents list. Chapters will also be included explaining the use of the chest-X-ray in other situations such as intensive care and pre-operatively. Junior doctors are routinely ordering chest X-rays in these situations and chapters explaining their utility should be very useful. An innovative idea is the inclusion of a chapter explaining the importance of the chest X-ray as a tool for patient follow up. Patients with a known diagnosis are often seen in follow up clinics by junior doctors who are not necessarily specialising in respiratory medicine.
Review of these patients will involve review of their chest X-rays though it is often not clear to junior staff what features of the X-ray they should be concentrating on. By detailing the important features of a chest-X-ray in following up patients this book will be of great help to those SHOs who undertake out-patient work and increase the educational value of working in a respiratory out-patient clinic. 'Easy' concentrated entirely on the plain chest X-ray. Other imaging techniques are however widely used in chest medicine. Therefore the book will begin with a chapter in which the basics of CT scanning (including spiral CT), V/Q scanning and MRI scanning of the chest are explained. Mention will also be made of PET scanning. The use of these investigations in the diagnosis of chest disease will then be included in the relevant chapters.