Radiography in the Digital Age: Physics, Exposure, Radiation Biology, fourth edition

This is an ambitious publication from America. The textbook runs to 800 pages and is divided into three sections: physics, exposure and radiation biology. The terminology and content is aligned with the Radiography Curriculum Guide published by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.

Ten chapters cover basic mathematics, physics and x-ray equipment circuitry. Production of the radiographic image is comprehensively covered.

There is a useful section covering ‘Patient conditions, pathology and contrast agents’. This securely links the production of the x-ray image with the clinical experiences students will have while on hospital placement.

The third section provides detail on digital radiography with emphasis placed on the implications of moving from analogue to digital techniques and the challenges presented by viewing and manipulating the final image.

The final section is entitled ‘Radiation biology and protection.’ Here, cellular effects are described in detail, along with organism effects.

This book is a substantial and weighty publication. While most of the content will be of use to UK student radiographers, there is some content that could be classed as ‘of historical interest.’ While this feature has its role in placing modern technology in the context of previous scientific developments, tutors would be advised to guide students through this topic to achieve clarification and modern-day relevance.

Basic maths and physics in this textbook would have mostly been covered by undergraduates during their secondary level education. ‘Algebraic operations, areas and volumes’ feature early in this text.

Perhaps this book could have been published in three separate volumes to give students more targeted choices when purchasing. This would aid in fulfilling their personal requirements, especially if they included previous knowledge of basic science.

Lecturers will find this volume a useful go-to text, but caution is needed to align content with the current UK undergraduate syllabuses in diagnostic radiography. There is considerable content in this publication for the student to navigate and careful guidance is needed from academic staff to steer student activity towards the relevant clinical applications in modern medical imaging departments.

Illustrations are plentiful and well presented. All imaging modalities have their relevant place in each section. There are examples of radiographic images that echo the idea of ‘museum’ hard-copy images from radiography schools.

Generally, a useful addition to the existing body of knowledge and it earns its place on the university bookshelf.