Combat Radiology

Combat Radiology provides unique insights into a military radiologist’s role in the modern battlefield environment. Drawing on his recent experiences in Iraq, Col. Les Folio, a retired air force radiologist and flight surgeon with over twenty years of service, presents a comprehensive introduction to diagnostic imaging technology for the deployed military physician. Topics in the book include descriptions of imaging capabilities of hospitals in deployed military bases in combat zones; practical imaging techniques and terminology associated with penetrating/perforating blast and ballistic injuries; recent medical advances on the battlefield; and the changing role of imaging modalities in combat situations. Additionally, specific anatomic and pathologic imaging cases from combat situations are presented, including traumatic brain injury, chest, abdomen/pelvis, and skeletal trauma. Combat Radiology will appeal not only to military radiologists and surgeons, but also to civilian emergency radiologists and trauma physicians who encounter patients with ballistic and blast injuries resulting from armed conflict, terrorism, and disaster situations.

From the reviews:

“This monograph describes the approaches to imaging of patients injured in combat used in recent military conflicts. … Military physicians or surgeons, intensivists treating military causalities in a follow-up role, and radiologists desiring an introduction to the practicalities of military radiology are an appropriate audience for this work. The author is a retired Air Force radiologist. … This is a good introduction to the unique technical considerations facing radiologists in the current combat environment.” (David J. Dries, Doody’s Review Service, October, 2010)

“Combat Radiology in essence comprises 3 books in a single volume. … With the aid of diagrams and illustrations, many in color, the author shows how ultrasound and computed tomography with multiplanar reconstruction and 3-dimensional volume-rendered images are used … . Combat Radiology is a valuable resource for any physician involved in military or emergency medicine … . will appeal to anyreader with an interest in how medicine is practiced on today’s battlefields.” (Leonard Berlin, Journal of the American Medical Association, December, 2010)

“Combat Radiology: Diagnostic Imaging of Blast and Ballistic Injuries is a good introduction to the imaging of patients injured in recent military conflicts. … Dr Folio is extremely well versed and knowledgeable in this field. … Excellent-quality images … are used to convey the extent of injuries sustained and to explain differing patterns of injuries. … it is more intended to be a general application for all health care providers involved in the care of patients who have blast- and ballistic-type injuries.” (Giang T. Nguyen, Radiology, Vol. 260 (3), September, 2011)