The phenomenal growth of diagnostic imaging and radiological techniques in the recent decade has meant that every medical student and young doctor-in-training (resident) must now be familiar with how imaging can help in their daily clinical problems. Whether the form of imaging utilised is a radiograph in a primary care rural clinical or magnetic resonance angiography in an internationally-renown tertiary referral centre, the same principles of appropriate selection and application of imaging techniques using a problem-solving approach apply.

This textbook is divided into two sections with a total of 55 chapters. The first section deals with the basic principles of imaging such as X-ray production, contrast agents, ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and radiation effects and protection. The second section covers anatomy (inclusive of imaging technique) and diseases of various organ systems. It also includes multisystemic disorders such as tropical diseases, and those affecting children and even animals.

The anatomy chapters for each organ system encompass essential gross and imaging anatomy, with indications for and a description of salient points of each imaging and interventional technique as applied to that particular system. The disease chapters for each organ system aim at a clinical problem- oriented approach to the use of imaging. The important radiological signs of specific diseases and their differential diagnosis are illustrated by typical imaging examples. For the smaller organ systems, the anatomy and disease chapters are amalgamated.

The two groups of doctors that will primarily benefit from this book are junior doctors training to be radiologists (i.e. residents) and practising general radiologists. Others who may find this book useful are trainees in various clinical specialties, senior clinical medical students, general practitioners (or family physicians), and allied health professionals working in radiology departments such as radiographers (technologists) and nurses.

Readers should be able to learn practical radiological anatomy, use the anatomy and disease chapters as a quick reference during daily clinical practice, and to appreciate the value and application of various imaging techniques in specific clinical contexts. The clinical problem-solving approach in this textbook is enhanced by a total of 2,388 illustrations and 75 tables. No effort has been spared in the attempt to produce good quality figures, diagrams and line drawings.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of this textbook is that it represents the first truly pan-Asian comprehensive textbook of radiology written in English, now widely-accepted as the universal language of international radiology and indeed, of medicine in general. We are grateful to our 80 distinguished authors who hail from many reputable centres in 15 countries. These authors were carefully selected on basis of their scholarship, and commitment to radiological education in the Asian-Oceanian region. Their extensive collective experience, particularly emphasizing the imaging approach and disease patterns unique to the Asian- Oceanian context, shines through each of the 1,300 plus pages of this textbook.

We wish very dearly for substantial progress of radiology in our region, and for increased cooperation and collaboration among radiologists in the Asian-Oceanian community. This textbook is in line with this vision, and will hopefully mark the start of greater things to come in the future.

Professor Wilfred C.G. Peh
Professor Yoshihiro Hiramatsu
Editors
Singapore and Tokyo
April 2003

While this textbook was in press, the world was shaken by an epidemic of global proportions caused by a new respiratory infection. This highly-virulent disease, later named severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), originated in southern China and spread very rapidly, particularly in Asia. The places most severely affected in terms of number of cases and deaths were China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada and Singapore. The World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a global health alert on the disease on 12 March 2003. According to the WHO data up until 11 July 2003, the cumulative number of reported probable cases was 8437, with 813 deaths. WHO has recently declared the SARS outbreak over. Within a matter of weeks, the international medical community has learnt, out of sheer necessity, much about this disease. Radiology has an important role in the assessment of patients suspected to have SARS. Recognising the importance of this new disease, we have commissioned an Appendix on SARS and thank the authors for writing a comprehensive account of this new disease at very short notice.

The Editors
July 2003