This new edition is a pleasure to read, and boasts many improvements over the previous edition. Now fully in color and abundantly illustrated, it contains updated and expanded chapters and feels a lot more user-friendly than its predecessor.
The first four chapters of the book offer an in-depth discussion of the fundamentals of ultrasound and aptly describe scanning techniques. The chapter on ultrasound-guided aspiration and biopsy procedures is enhanced with pictures of the cytological appearance of commonly sampled organs, which is very handy to see what the samples may look like before sending them off to the lab. It even describes how to make a phantom to practice ultrasound-guided FNA and biopsies. A very helpful table of the major differences between the ultrasonographic appearance of the abdominal organs of the dog and the cat is also included; this is a great tool for people starting to learn ultrasound or as a reminder for more seasoned ultrasonographers.
The following chapters offer detailed descriptions of the ultrasound of all the abdominal organs as well as the eye, neck, and musculoskeletal system. The book also contains a large section on echocardiography (over 100 pages).
A very useful feature of this book is the inclusion of gross pathology images and intra-op photographs next to their ultrasonographic counterparts; this helps the reader form a more accurate mental picture of the organs being scanned. Schematic representations of the organs also abound in this text. The accompanying website features over a hundred videos, including how-to videos for scanning techniques as well as clips of normal and pathological appearance of various organs.
My main complaint about this book is that the normal measurements of organs are written in the text instead of being found in tables, which makes it arduous to find them quickly. This book will be greatly appreciated by anyone studying or performing ultrasonographic examinations, whether they are just starting out or are more experienced. It is a great addition to the library of any clinic equipped with an ultrasound machine.