Book Review: Radiography in the Digital Age, 4th Edition
Carroll QB. Radiography in the Digital Age. 4th ed. 2023; 839 pp
The fourth edition of Radiography in the Digital Age not only updates (from the third edition published in 2018) the key concepts and practical application of radiography in the daily practice of radiology, but also brings to the fore many features of great value to radiographers and radiologists. This newest edition follows a highly educational pattern in which the objectives of each chapter are stated in the beginning of the chapter and are followed at the end of the chapter by a list of questions, the answers to which the reader must determine by studying the preceding material. A 13-page glossary is found at the end of the book, and it contains over 300 terms with their definitions. This section is a valuable part of the book, as one can refer frequently to definitions while reading through the text.
As one would expect from the title of the book, the material does not cover CT, MR, or PET imaging. It does, however, cover in detail the fundamentals of radiography. Written by Quinn Carroll, RT, with contributions from 10 other authors, this book is a continuation of the 3 prior editions dating back to 2011.
The book is divided into 4 major parts: The Physics of Radiography, Production of the Radiographic Image, Digital Radiography, and Radiation Biology and Protection. Each part contains multiple chapters that together cover all the fundamentals of radiography and, importantly, take the reader from the historical aspects of radiography to the modern systems, such as PACS and informatics. Noteworthy features are numerous, but one has to point out that areas on radiation, radiation units/measurements, radiation biology (both on a cellular basis and on the whole body), and radiation protection are critical and deserve review and re-review.
As a general, overall observation, the book—800 pages in length—is printed on high-quality paper and contains innumerable well-conceived drawings, figures, and images that illustrate the points raised in the accompanying text.
An added bonus of this book is the inclusion of all the underlying physics and mathematic underpinnings of modern imaging. It provides well-written explanations of many physical properties that form the basis for radiography. Interspersed in some of the chapters are practice exercises that help drive home major points of the preceding material. Aside from this book’s practical usefulness, it is simply interesting to read. There are many examples of this, but it takes one back to some of the principles that we as radiologists learned and forgot, or perhaps were unaware of. Want, for example, a review of electrical circuits, power, and current? Here is the material, nicely described and illustrated. Want an explanation of the components of testing radiographic equipment? Here it is in a nice bundle. Please understand that these are just 2 of many such examples.
There is so much high-quality educational material contained in this classic book that it is difficult to do justice to all of its key and enduring features in a short review like this. Suffice to say that this must be considered source material for all those involved in radiology/radiography. It is well suited for residents studying for the Board examinations and for attending/practicing radiologists who wish to review/refresh themselves on some of the basic principles of our practice. This is a book that should find its place in every departmental library and may be one that individuals should consider purchasing. It is given the highest rating for its educational impact.
