British Journal of Radiology (2003) 76, 580
© 2003 British Institute of Radiology
doi:
Imaging in paediatric urology. By W Becker, J Meller, H Zappel, A Leenen and F Seseke, pp. xii+251, 2003 (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany), £98.00 ISBN 3-540-43348-1
D W Pilling
This book written by specialists in urology, radiology and nuclear medicine provides a comprehensive review of this subject. The early chapters deal with embryology of the urinary tract and then a description of the more common congenital abnormalities of the upper and lower urinary tract. There are chapters dealing with the clinical problems of urinary tract infection and stone formation with further chapters dealing with the imaging of and treatment of common urinary tract problems such as vesicoureteric reflux, megaureter, obstructive uropathy and urinary tract tumours.
The imaging investigations are separate from the clinical chapters and nuclear medicine is provided in a separate chapter from the other imaging modalities. The book is completed with a series of case studies of some common and some not so common urinary tract problems. This layout has certain advantages for the authors but for the reader the separation of the clinical from the imaging seems a rather artificial one.
The quality of the book is, however, very high and for those involved in imaging an insight into the management strategies for various urinary tract pathology is very interesting. It seems likewise the very clear description of the imaging strategy would be of great interest to those involved clinically in paediatric urology. Because the book deals extensively with the common problems as well as the less common this book should be very welcome in all departments dealing with children's urinary tract problems. The views on difficult subjects such as follow up of antenatally diagnosed hydronephrosis and the imaging of urinary tract infection are dealt with in a well reasoned fashion giving pragmatic advice. This book can be strongly recommended.
