ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We owe debts of gratitude to so many individuals. Our priority was to utilise a large number of exquisitely precise drawings within an overall structure and design layout that would assist in explaining the basic concepts that underpin accurate analysis of the plain CXR. To achieve this we needed to assemble a team that included a skilled medical illustrator and a first class designer / editor. These were our principle objectives before we set about making the first keystrokes. We had worked with Claire Gilman previously and her design skills, imagination, and superb professionalism have proved to be more than invaluable — they have been priceless. We sought and found a wonderfully skilful medical artist, Philip Wilson, who created 250 figurative and realistic artworks of the very highest quality. Michael Houston and Cheryl Brant of Elsevier completed the team and with predictable expertise guided the project through to completion.

We could not have completed this Survival Guide without the help of Pam Golden who typed numerous drafts and revisions. Others who helped us included Floss (Tracey Wilson) who carried out supplementary typing. Dr Denis Remedios, Dr Emily Tam and Jeremy Weldon of Northwick Park Hospital, Julian Evans and Dr Nick Screaton of the University of Cambridge, and Dr Tracey Kilborn of Red Cross Children’s Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, assisted us with material for illustration. Professor Colin Morley (Professor of Neonatal Medicine, Royal Womens’ and Royal Childrens’ Hospitals, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) provided practical and constructive advice when reviewing important parts of the manuscript.

It would be very wrong to write a book on the plain CXR without acknowledging the influence of numerous internationally renowned masters and past masters. We have appropriated and utilised their original observations and explanations time and time again. There are too many of these experts for us to list. Nevertheless, two maestros must be mentioned. Firstly, Professor Peter Armstrong, recently of St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, and previously radiologist at the University of Virginia Medical School. Peter is the principal faculty member on our advanced plain CXR course held in London. Every year we learn something new from his clear and logical analyses. He will surely forgive us for adapting several of his descriptions in order to explain and illustrate various anatomical concepts — particularly around the hilum of the lung. Another renowned expert, Dr Benjamin Felson, through his writings and enduring teachings had long ago stimulated our interest in the diagnostic subtleties underpinning CXR analysis. Dr Felson, once a radiologist at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, was the acknowledged pioneer in developing the scientific approach to CXR assessment. His enduring legacy remains an academic and clinical treasure chest. Dr Felson’s numerous and exquisitely perceptive observations retain a relevance and a freshness which remain fully appropriate to 21st century medicine and modern day medical imaging. We owe all these individuals a very great debt. Thank you.