Atlas of hand radiographs

Preface THE HAND can be affected by a multitude of local and general disorders. In many cases a radiograph of the hand may give an invaluable clue to the diagnosis of a general lesion. This atlas is primarily intended for use both by trainee and by established radiologists, and it is hoped that, in part or in whole, it will be of interest to clinicians such as orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists, general physicians, nephrologists, physicians interested in tropical diseases and paediatricians. Most of the commoner hand conditions are included in this atlas as are many lesions which are not, technically, situated in the hand proper but are seen on a hand radiograph. Traumatic lesions have been excluded for, in the main, they do not cause many difficulties in radiological diagnosis. I have attempted to strike a fair balance throughout between commonplace and rare conditions, with the emphasis on practical rather than theoretical considerations and on less familiar facts rather than those well known to practising radiologists. The radiographs have been grouped on an aetiological basis, although difficulties must naturally arise when more than one aetiological factor operates. For example, gout could quite properly be included in both the metabolic section and among the diseases of joints, the latter being chosen in this case. The amount of text has been kept to the minimum, with detailed information being given in the captions only about the less well-known conditions, and it is intended that the atlas be used in conjunction with one of the several textbooks of skeletal radiology currently available....