Over a mere 5 years, neonatal cranial sonography has evolved from an obscure and largely experimental imaging possibility to the modality of preference in the examination of the young brain. The almost immediate acceptance of the ultrasound examination of the neonatal brain was based on a number of coinci dent factors, the most important of which was the emergence of a burgeoning population of premature neonates who were, for the first time, surviving be yond infancy. These delicate patients were beginning to withstand the rigors of extrauterine life when not fully prepared for it; pulmonary, cardiac, and infec tious diseases no longer claimed most of them. With survival, a new specter reared its head: Would the eventual mental and neurologic status of these same children be worth the expense and time needed to bring them through their first months? This issue became increasingly pressing as evidence mounted through the 1970s that very premature neonates were at a high risk for intracranial hemor rhage and posthemorrhagic complications. An imaging modality that could evaluate the premature brain was sorely needed. The CT scanner with its proven ability to diagnose intracranial hemorrhage was of little value in this regard. So too were static gray-scale or waterpath ultrasound units. These modalities all had the same limitation, lack of portability. As neonatal intensive care units proliferated, so did the technology that would soon allow cribside neonatal neuroimaging, the real-time sector scanner."

"Duplex Sonography" is the first comprehensive text written about this modality. The book offers the reader detailed information about all major uses of duplex and is introduced by a brief chapter on the physical principles of doppler ultrasound as it relates to duplex scanning. "Duplex " "Sonography" is intended to provide relevant information on all aspects of the technique, ranging from the basics of performing the examination to the features of sometimes complex pathological states. The book is intended for anyone interested in non-invasive vascular diagnosis including radiologists, vascular surgeons and ultrasound/peripheral vascular technologists. Other groups may find individual chapters appealing: carotid/cardiac sonography for cardiologists, fetal sonography for obstetricians or carotid sonography for neurologists. Each chapter is not only a guide to duplex evaluation, but also provides valuable information about vascular dynamics of the organ system under discussion. Physicians or technologists reading this book should come away with a well-rounded background in state-of-the-art duplex sonography and will undoubtedly discover new possibilities for using this non-invasive vascular technique.

Ultrasound is used frequently as the modality of choice for vascular imaging.? It's unique ability to demonstrate blood flow make it particularly effective.? Reviewed in this issue are the US applications in the imaging of the heart, kidneys, and liver.? Also covered are imaging of US for imaging of the carotid artery and in deep vein thrombosis.? Lastly an article highlighting ways to optimize Doppler US is included.