Book Review

Top 3 Differentials in Radiology:  A Case Review.  By William T. O’Brien, Sr.  New York, NY:  Thieme Medical Publishers, 720 pp. 2010.
$109.95 softcover (ISBN: 978-1604062267)

T
op 3 Differentials in Radiology:
A Case Review is intended for
physicians preparing for the
board certification examinations.
The book is organized into 12 core sections
by radiologic subspecialty and an additional
13th section of roentgen classics or “Aunt
Minnies.” Each core section contains 25
high-yield unknown cases that are presented
in a format that allows readers to practice a
boards-style approach.
The unknown-case images are of high
American Journal of Roentgenology 2010.195:W303-W303.
3” diagnoses, including salient imaging and
clinical features that the reader should con-
sider in differentiating between the entities.
The Top 3 may be the most common or the
most important diagnoses to consider in each
case. Often, an additional few diagnoses are
included (stratified into a separate section) to
round out the differential diagnosis. In all,
the differential list remains quite short and
highly practical—an excellent guide to the
focused discussions expected from exam-
inees at the board examinations. The final
instructive. However, it is the preceding 12
core sections that make this review book
stand out. Deemphasizing the final diagnosis
encourages the reader to review the images
while navigating through a differential di-
agnosis in a way that develops a diagnostic
approach beyond simple pattern recognition
(Why is this diagnosis likely? Why is it not
this other diagnosis?). In this manner, Top 3
Differentials in Radiology: A Case Review
complements and surpasses many of the other
high-yield review books currently available. I

quality and are presented on the left-hand
page of each case with a brief clinical pre-
sentation. Each case illustrates a key radio-
graphic finding that is succinctly described
in a caption that is also on the left-hand
page. This is done without disclosing the
diagnosis, allowing readers to confirm that
they are formulating a differential diagnosis
for the correct finding. The right-hand page
contains a high-yield discussion of the “Top
diagnosis, although given, is deemphasized.
Key teaching points are reiterated in a con-
cise Pearls section, and a reference list is in-
cluded for each case. Also, an appendix list-
ing each finding and differential list can be
found at the end of the book for easy review.
The final section of roentgen classics is
presented in a more traditional format (25 un-
known-case images, findings, and discussion
of the singular diagnoses) and is also highly
strongly recommend it to physicians looking
to refresh their radiologic knowledge base
and diagnostic acumen, particularly those
preparing for the initial or recertification ra-
diology board examinations.
Madhura Desai
Mayo Clinic Florida
Jacksonville, FL
DOI:10.2214/AJR.10.4581
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AJR 2010; 195:W303 0361–803X/10/1954–W303 © American Roentgen Ray Society

AJR:195, October 2010 W303