Book excerpt: This essential handbook provides indispensable guidance for all those seeking or reporting investigations in radiology which arises in an emergency setting. It summarises the major problems faced on-call and provides advice on the most suitable radiological tests to request as well as suggesting an appropriate timescale for imaging. From a radiologist's perspective, it lists in concise format the protocol for each test and outlines the expected findings. Emergency radiology is a crucial component of emergency care as a whole. It is rare for a patient to undergo emergency surgery or treatment without prior imaging. Radiology is the new gate-keeper in clinical practice with an emergency CT scan of the head being performed in most UK hospitals every day. Radiology can confirm a diagnosis, sending a patient down a pathway of established therapy; confirm normality, leading to patient discharge; detect an unsuspected abnormality, suggesting an alternative action altogether; or be non-contributory. This concise, portable handbook supports emergency-setting radiology and helps the reader in this vital field.