PREFACE Preface Chest physicians use a wide variety of imaging techniques in their pursuit of accurate diagnosis and in the evaluation of treatment. Technical advances in computer science, continuous refinements in computed tomography, positron emission tomography as well as magnetic resonance imaging have profoundly transformed our way of visualising chest diseases. This issue of the European Respiratory Monograph, edited by Alexander Bankier and Pierre Alain Gevenois, aims to give an overview of developments in imaging and to describe direct clinical applications. Furthermore, diagnostic imaging strategies for a variety of highly prevalent respiratory pathologies as pulmonary embolism, idiopathic interstitial pneumonias as well as collagen-vascular disorders are discussed. Imaging facilities for screening and staging lung carcinoma are carefully reviewed in different papers. The final goal of this issue of the Monograph is a more comprehensible use of currently available imaging technologies. I like to thank all the authors for their excellent contributions in making this an up-to- date Monograph on chest radiographic imaging. I would also like to extend special thanks to Alexander Bankier and Pierre Alain Gevenois, guest editors of this issue of the Monograph. Finally, technological innovations continue to be made at an extra-ordinarily rapid pace so that newer developments will continue to expand our understanding of how best to visualise thoracic disease in the direct future. E.F.M. Wouters Editor in Chief Eur Respir Mon, 2004, 30, a. Printed in UK - all rights reserved. Copyright ERS Journals Ltd 2004 European Respiratory Monograph ISSN 1025-448x. ISBN 1-904097-34-0. a