Spine: Top 100 Diagnoses by Michael Brant-Zawadzki, Mark Z. Chen, Kevin R. Moore, Karen L. Salzman, and Anne G. Osborn
Elsevier Science, St. Louis, 2002, soft-cover, $49.95; PDA software, $69.95
The major strengths of this 300-page soft-cover book are the information accompanying every diagnosis and its inexpensive price. Its major limitation is the tiny size of many of the images.
The diagnoses are organized into eleven categories: congenital, trauma, degenerative, infections, inflammatory/autoimmune, neoplasms, non-neoplastic cysts and masses, post-operative complications, vascular lesions, vertebral marrow changes, and peripheral nerve/plexus imaging.
Information about the 109 "conditions" are summarized in tables that include key facts, clinical issues, imaging findings, pathology, differential diagnoses, and references.
Every case features one to four high-resolution images. MR images predominate, but examples of radiographs, CT images, bone scans, and full color anatomic-pathologic computer graphic images are also included. The high-resolution images are printed on top-quality paper and represent excellent examples of the pathologies presented. Unfortunately, many of the reproductions are too small to clearly depict the important findings. The captions accompanying each image are brief but informative.
Even though the books in this series are not meant to be encyclopedic in scope, a wide range of disorders and a surprising amount of information are included in each category of disease. Every disorder is referenced with up to three current and pertinent citations.
This book is an inexpensive reference that is particularly useful for radiology residents in their neuroimaging and spine rotations and board exam preparations. The PDA format may be a handier way to store and retrieve information about each of these spine diagnoses.
By Dr. John A.M. TaylorAuntMinnie.com contributing writer
July 2, 2002
Dr. Taylor is a professor of radiology at the New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls, NY. He is the co-author of Skeletal Imaging: Atlas of the Spine and Extremities.
If you are interested in reviewing a book, let us know at [email protected].
The opinions expressed in this review are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of AuntMinnie.com.
Copyright © 2002 AuntMinnie.com
![Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/08/images-radiol250278fig2.APCFLSvX6p.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=100&q=70&w=100)
![Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/08/images-radiol250278fig2.APCFLSvX6p.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
