NT SCANNING FOR THE BEGINNER

First impressions are that this is a richly illustrated book throughout and aimed as described at the beginner new to nuchal translucency screening. It assumes no prior knowledge and takes the reader through the entire range of applications and interpretations. Examples are used with excellent quality ultrasound images and labelled in detail which provides the newcomer with clear images to use for reference.

Its systematic and structured approach makes each chapter a learning module but also it can be a reference book to dip into. The chapters comprise a greater portion of images than text, and the style is direct and concise with appropriate practical learning points throughout given by the author with extensive practical experience.

The wide range of ultrasound images mean that examples of all common conditions have been collected for reference. The book would be ideally placed in the ultrasound examination room for comparisons to be made by the sonographer in training. Qualified sonographers will also find this ideal for revision and reference as will trainee doctors entering fetal medicine.

I found the book ideal as a teaching aid to use in the scan room. The title gives no hint of the more extended content of other first trimester anomalies found incidental to nuchal screening such as megacystis and omphalocoele which gives a more rounded and comprehensive picture of first trimester screening.

The inclusion of early pregnancy complications into the realm of early pregnancy assessment is useful and particularly the cases combining pregnancy with benign gynaecological pathology such as the complex ovarian cyst, fibroids and pregnancy with an IUCD. The inclusion of an IVF pregnancy and the dilemma of not redating it at the time of NT screening but using dating derived from IVF treatment is instructive as is the case of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome with co-existing pregnancy.

The setting in which the author works has allowed for uncommon scenarios to be presented such as pregnancy with a transplanted kidney in the pelvis. Chapter 5 incorporates a useful section on “What’s wrong with these images?” which is very appropriate when auditing image quality and pertinent to everyday practice.

The last chapter comprises of 40 case presentations all relevant to pregnancy, again well illustrated, some more common place than others. Its size makes it a true handbook and portable to use in the work environment.

The index is limited but adequate and balanced by the clearly labelled table of content in the preliminary pages. It’s the book to carry around and dip into regularly. The author describes that only the best obtainable views have been used for illustration which makes the examples all the more useful for teaching purposes. The websites referenced are limited to imaging and are pertinent to the text.