Whole Body Computed Tomography Angiography, second edition

As a consultant diagnostic and interventional radiologist, I approached this second edition with high expectations, noting the seven-year interval since the previous edition and the significant technological strides made in the interim. This comprehensive volume largely succeeds as a magnificent visual atlas, although it leaves some room for improvement regarding specific technical protocols for complex vascular phases.

The visual quality of this text is immediately striking. Leveraging the capabilities of modern multislice spiral CT to achieve isotropic scanning, the book presents high quality 3D visualisations that meet rigorous diagnostic requirements. The editors have done an excellent job showcasing a variety of post-processing techniques, including maximum intensity projection, volume rendering and curved planar reformation, which are essential for dissecting complex vascular anatomy.

For the interventionalist, the most valuable aspect of this book is the frequent multimodality comparison. The text regularly juxtaposes CT angiography findings with invasive digital subtraction angiography, which remains the gold standard for many vascular diagnoses. This comparison is particularly effective in sections covering complex pathologies, such as spinal arteriovenous malformations or lower extremity vascular diseases (in the chapter CT Angiography of Lower Extremities), where determining the precise angioarchitecture is a prerequisite for intervention. Furthermore, the inclusion of updated content on dual-energy CT and radiation dose optimisation strategies demonstrates the editors’ commitment to current best practices, for example the chapter Radiation Dose
Optimization Strategy for CT Angiography. This is likely to be the area where this field expands most in the coming years.

In addition to image quality being superb, the practical how-to components provide depth. For example, achieving optimal opacification of the inferior vena cava without mixing artefacts often requires specific timing adjustments, and the authors provide this information (recommended parameters) for contrast injection, including specific delay times and flow rates (table 19.1) in each section.

Overall, this is a high quality reference work. Its strength lies in its comprehensive scope, from cranial to paediatric applications, and its stunning 3D reconstructions. It is an exceptional addition to the radiology library, particularly for vascular and interventional radiologists.

To purchase this title at our discounted rate email: katherine@radmagazine.com.