Book Review

MRI of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors and Tumorlike Lesions. By: Steven P. Meyers. New York, NY: Thieme Medical Publishers, 814 pp., 2008. $249.95 hardcover (ISBN: 978-3131354211) RI of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors and Tumorlike Lesions was developed from a perceived need for a single easy-to-use reference text detailing the MRI features of bone and soft-tissue tumors and tumor mimics, while also providing correlative clinical and pathologic data. Although largely targeted toward the radiologist, this text is also meant to serve as a resource for the broader medical community, including orthopedics, neurosurgery, and pathology. The author is an experienced academic radiologist with additional fellowship training in MRI and neuroradiology. Maintaining a special interest in musculoskeletal tumors throughout his career, Steven P. Meyers has accumulated a substantial collection of cases, forming the foundation of the text. The book is conveniently organized into three discrete sections, each with a specific format appropriate to its content. The first section serves as an introduction to the subject material, with an overview of the utility of MRI in evaluating musculoskeletal tumors and tumor mimics. A collection of tables presents the classification of bone and soft-tissue tumors according to the World Health Organization. To provide consistency in nomenclature and categorization, this classification system is used throughout the text. Additional tables summarize pertinent clinical information, including immunohistochemical markers, genetic abnormalities, relative frequencies of occurrence, and grading of bone and soft-tissue tumors.

The second section of the book consists of 20 tables that organize differential diagnoses of lesions on the basis of anatomic location and MRI features. Each table is neatly organized, with columns detailing MRI findings and relevant clinical information for each entity. A multitude of MRI images are interspersed throughout this section, illustrating the imaging features presented in the adjacent tables. Where appropriate, correlative imaging is provided by an occasional CT or radiographic study. References to the literature are conveniently provided at the end of each section, with additional internal references to the third section of the text presented within the tables. In the third section, information is organized in the form of an atlas with a separate chapter for each of the 77 entities in alphabetical order. Each entry is detailed with respect to its definition, relevant clinical features, gross and histopathologic features, MRI and correlative imaging characteristics, differential diagnosis, and treatment and prognosis. Abundant MRI images are included for each entry, again with relevant CT and radiographic images provided for correlation. Extensive references to the literature are provided at the end of each chapter, enabling the reader to efficiently gather additional information as needed. The author has succeeded in producing a practical reference-style text encompassing the continually expanding knowledge base concerning the MRI evaluation of bone and

soft-tissue tumors and their mimics. Attention to relevant clinical details throughout the text secondarily makes this an excellent resource for the broader medical community. A goal of the text is to provide extensive use of figures for illustration, andat least in sheer numberthat goal is clearly achieved. However, at times the number of images is so great that image quality suffers because image size is reduced to fit practically within a given space. At times, I would have preferred one or two good images of an entity as opposed to a cluster of small images. Aside from the limitations imposed by image size, however, the overall image quality is quite good. The organization of the text facilitates straightforward reference to specific lesions and relevant differential diagnoses, which is particularly useful in a busy referral center. Inclusion of abundant references enables more in-depth research as desired. As a whole, MRI of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors and Tumorlike Lesions is likely best used as an encyclopedic collection of cases providing reference on a case-by-case basis as opposed to a primary learning resource. I would recommend this text to those looking for a useful addition to their desk-side armamentarium, particularly those regularly dealing with bone and soft-tissue tumors. Joseph M. Bestic Mayo Clinic Florida Jacksonville, FL
DOI:10.2214/AJR.09.2340 WEBThis is a Web exclusive article.

AJR 2009; 193:W1 0361803X/09/1932W152 American Roentgen Ray Society

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AJR:193, August 2009