Paul McCoubrie - The Rules of Radiology

This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG

The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland

Hello and welcome to this book.

If you have bought this book then you are either a radiologist or someone who is interested in radiology. Or possibly my mother (Hi Mum!). Irrespective of who you are, hopefully youll find much in the following pages that will be directly relevant to your personal and professional life. It may even raise a dry smile: Lord knows that those have been in short supply recently.

This book addresses what I see as the most important issues in radiology. To be specific, it takes a critical look at the day-to-day practice of radiology and teases out the important bits. Not always the popular or topical bits, but the nitty-gritty of what radiology is actually all about. These are the topics that radiologists know intuitively but actually rarely discuss. I explain why these topics are so important and should be discussed.

It isnt a textbook by any stretch of the imagination; there are plenty of those already. Nor is it a manifesto; Im no politician. It isnt just a critical look at the world of radiology but it gives considered guidance about how radiologists and others can not only survive but also thrive amidst the tricky modern medical world.

In that respect, it is a letter to my younger self. Apart from saying, sit down, shut up and get a haircut, this overlong letter contains all of the scraps of wisdom Ive gathered thus far in my time on this planet. By presenting these as Rules to be obeyed, it makes up an unofficial curriculum for young radiologists starting out into the world. For others it provides a reality check; a mirror to hold themselves up against. It is an extensive critique of modern radiology but it also conveys a valuable message of hope in these turbulent times.

You will note that this book deals with Rules of Radiology #1-50 but there are multiple references to Rules #51-100. These are listed in Appendix 1. My intention is write a second volume to cover Rules #51-100. However, I am contractually obliged to not do so for a year from the publication date of this book otherwise my wife says she will probably leave me. Given that Im rather fond of her, you will have to wait for the second volume, I am afraid. But hopefully it will be worth the wait.

The book is about radiology. Not radiotherapy or anything to do with radios. If you arent medical, radiology is sometimes known as the X-ray department, roentgenography (only in the US) or the loathsome medical imaging. Radiology is a post-graduate medical speciality. Like Anaesthetists , patients are often surprised that we are doctors and not some technically-trained Surgeons handmaiden.