Category: Book Review

  • Primary Pediatric Radiology

    Primary Pediatric Radiology

    The formula for writing an exceptionally good radiology book is pretty straightforward: Well-organized chapters based on cardinal clinical scenarios Specific recommendations with regard to when and whom to image (or not to image!) Excellent images and annotations Primary Pediatric Radiology, by Susan Williamson, M.D., delivers on all of these points. It is a clinically oriented book, with…

  • Stroke & TIA Mimics

    Here are the important stroke and TIA mimics: Systemic and metabolic insults: especially hypoglycemia, but also a very wide variety of other systemic insults such as infections (urinary tract infections, pneumonia) and toxins, all of which can cause re-expression of symptoms of old strokes. Peripheral neuropathies such as idiopathic seventh cranial nerve (Bell’s) palsy, peripheral…

  • Book Review: Toxicology in a Box

    Book Review: Toxicology in a Box

    Toxicology in a box is a pretty cool toxicology learning tool. The box contains 154 flashcards with classic and memorable drawings of important poisonings and toxidromes. On the reverse of each card, there is additional important information about sources, classic scenarios, signs/symptoms, mechanisms of action, treatment and clinical pearls.The cards are hilarious (sometimes!) and memorable. It’s really…

  • Book Review: The Bedside Dysmorphologist

    Book Review: The Bedside Dysmorphologist

    The Bedside Dysmorphologist by Dr. William Reardon is a great book about diagnosing malformation syndromes at the bedside.  It is only about 300 pages long, but it is packed with essential clinical pearls. Unlike other books in the field which break things down by syndromes, this book delves into the differential diagnosis based on clinical presentations. For example,…

  • Book Review: Rapid Interpretation of ECGs in Emergency Medicine

    Book Review: Rapid Interpretation of ECGs in Emergency Medicine

    I don’t have any electrocardiography books on my list of best medical books of all time. There are a few contenders for that spot.  One of them is Rapid Interpretation of ECGs in Emergency Medicine: A Visual Guide (2012) by Drs. Jennifer Martindale and David Brown. The book is basically a marked-up atlas of important,…

  • Book Review: Surgical Recall, 6e

    Book Review: Surgical Recall, 6e

    Surgical Recall, 6e (2012) by Lorne H. Blackbourne MD is an 800-page handbook that is packed with very high-yield clinical information that all primary care physicians should find relevant. The book is obviously is surgery oriented, but I find its content to be extremely relevant to all major medical specialties. Solid tumors, relevant to almost…

  • Book Review: Board Basics 3

    Book Review: Board Basics 3

    Despite some important limitations, this is probably one of the best internal medicine review books in existence. The book is loaded with essential and hard-to-find charts, lists, tips and Board review questions.  For example, on page 289 there is a table devoted to the mimics of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The table provides essential clinical…