Our dream has come true with the publication of this inaugural edition of the Asian-Oceanian Textbook of Radiology. To my knowledge, radiologists and residents in the Asian-Oceanian region have, for a long time, been learning from and relying on textbooks with Anglo-Saxon origins. I am not saying they have serious problems. On the contrary, the fact is that those books are a source of good teaching material for us. However, at the same time, there is a strong need for a good radiology textbook, written by Asian-Oceanian radiology experts, for radiologists and residents in this region. We have our own radiology practices, diseases and medico-economical situations that are specific to Asian-Oceanian countries. For example, we see much more gastric cancers and hepatomas. In fact, we are recognised as leading performers in the diagnosis and treatment in these and other fields.

We have tropical and semitropical diseases and infections which are not common in the developed West. With global warming, distributions of these diseases are becoming different from what they used to be. Previous knowledge may no longer match well to the recent environmental changes. Radiology in Asia and Oceania therefore cannot be a copy of radiology practised in the Western countries any more. I believe that Asian-Oceanian radiology and Western radiology are both essential. In this sense, this inaugural edition of the Asian-Oceanian Textbook of Radiology is the first step of our dream which has been anticipated for a long time.

I extend my congratulations to all those involved in publishing this textbook. I appreciate very much the efforts of Professor Wilfred C.G. Peh and Professor Yoshihiro Hiramatsu for their excellent editorship, and all the authors for their wonderful contributions. This textbook is epoch-making. To commemorate this occasion, I hope for further progress of Asian-Oceanian radiology, and satisfactory welfare of the Asian-Oceanian people. I am certain that with the knowledge gained from this textbook, all of us should be able to practice better radiology back in each individual country, city, and town in the region. I feel fortunate indeed to have my words included in the Foreword of this first edition of the Asian-Oceanian Textbook of Radiology. Finally, I would like to share my favourite words by American writer William Rogers: "Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there". So do join us in studying radiology with this textbook and let us make a move towards fulfilling the future aspirations of Asian-Oceanian radiology. Congratulations once again.

Professor Hitoshi KATAYAMA, M.D.
Emeritus Professor
Juntendo University
Tokyo, Japan
Immediate Past President
Asian-Oceanian Society of Radiology