Teaching Atlas of Mammography

Jul 2, 2002

Teaching Atlas of Mammography by László Tabár and Peter B. Dean (2nd edition)
Thieme, New York, 2001, $129

The Teaching Atlas of Mammography book is the beautiful result of the authors’ experience with the interpretation of over 80,000 mammograms. Providing a correlation between mammographic findings, histopathological diagnosis, and follow-up, this teaching atlas is recommended for all radiologists and residents who specialize in mammography screening or are simply interested in breast diseases.

The format for this atlas is explanatory sections followed by numerous, well-illustrated cases. Topics that are deftly handled include horizontal and oblique masking vital for structure or contour abnormalities, as well as the various types of lesions. Special chapters are devoted to the latter, including key information on the importance of contour, density, form, and size of circular/oval tumors. An invaluable algorithm for these lesions, absent in the previous edition, is built up.

The 56 cases of circular/oval tumors are well explained stressing lesion analysis, puncture/preoperative needle biopsy, cytology, histology and follow-up. Numerous histopathological images match perfectly to the lesions on the high quality mammograms.

Stellate/spiculated lesions, caused either by invasive ductal carcinoma, radial scar or traumatic fat necrosis are well explained with 29 cases presented. Benign-type and miscellaneous calcifications are explained with 41 cases.

Form (casting-type, granular-type, powdery), size, density and number of malignant calcifications are thoroughly explained and accompanied by 24 cases.

The references in this book are comprehensive, ranging from 1913 to 2000. Compared to the previous edition, there are over 100 histopathological images, which support radiologic findings. There also is an impressive 20-year follow-up information on patients.

One criticism is that certain areas, such as the signs of primary importance in diagnosing circular/oval lesions, would have been easier to understand in table format.

Thanks to this atlas with its abundant and superb images, as well as a well written text, the secrets of mammography are revealed.

By Dr. Ana Roxana Covali
AuntMinnie.con contributing writer
July 3, 2002
Dr. Covali serves as a junior radiologist at the Elena Doamna Obstetrics and Gynecology University Hospital in Iasi, Romania. She also is a teaching assistant in the histology department at Gr T Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Iasi. Dr. Covali is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in histology at Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest.

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