This is the second edition of a successful publication, having as its main goal to give to residents the best preparation for the American board examination in Radiology. The editor is William T. O’Brien Sr., Director of Paediatric Neuroradiology Fellowship and Associate Professor of Radiology at the University of Cincinnati. The contributors are a large series of authors with different experience, with a range that goes from expert radiologists and professors with years of practice to students. Therefore, the book is strongly characterized by the format structured by the editor, who has imposed editorial standards, very valid from the educational point of view, to be strictly followed by the individual providers. The volume is made of 720 high-yield pages and is based on the fundamental contribution of 825 high quality illustrations. With respect to the first edition, published in 2010, many illustrative cases have been added improving and updating the clinical content. The structure of the book is organized in the following 13 sections, covering all the issues involved in the board examination. Each is managed by a sub-editor and the arguments are the following: 1) chest and cardiac imaging; 2) gastrointestinal imaging; 3) genitourinary imaging; 4) musculoskeletal imaging; 5) head and neck imaging; 6) brain and spine imaging; 7) paediatric imaging; 8) ultrasound imaging; 9) foetal imaging; 10) vascular and interventional radiology; 11) nuclear medicine; 12) breast imaging; 13) Roentgen classics, including cases taken from the previous sections, in which findings are characteristic of a single diagnosis. Finally, an index of differential diagnoses and an index of key findings are added at the end.

All the cases are organized on a double page, having on the left images and the clinical presentation. On the right side, are at first individuated the top three differential diagnosis, followed by additional differential diagnoses that have also to be taken in consideration. Then the final diagnosis is indicated, followed by pearls helping to individuate the correct answer. Suggested readings are also added. It is important to note that the whole reasoning, though centred on the specific individual patient, widens the discussion to other frameworks that can be met.

For the methodological approach, the high quality of the images, the intelligent organization of the rational, the book reaches a great didactic level. It provides useful information to answer many of the current clinical questions. The logic is to direct the reader to the path of the more productive knowledge, to reach a diagnosis that in most cases favours the most frequent diseases.

For all these reasons, this book cannot be suggested only as pivotal text to residents who must acquire the American Board of Radiology or similar titles. In my opinion, the publication is also useful worldwide for all students who want to improve their knowledge in diagnostic imaging. Finally, this is a perfect volume for practicing radiologists, who want to refresh their preparation or test their competence and their degree of updating.