The dramatic evolution of new technology in diagnostic and therapeutic radiology has changed the whole field of medicine. Ultrasonography, computed tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and digital radiography are those new techniques which are undergoing continuous development, providing us with increasingly re fined methods for establishing the cause of disease and for treating the patient. Using radiologic technique, ingenious methods are continuously being developed to en sure less expensive, less traumatic, and more efficient therapy. Transluminal angio plasty, embolization of tumors or bleeding vessels, extraction or dissolution of stones, and regional infusions are some of these therapeutic methods in modem diagnostic radiology. Every day new ideas arise which are published in a multitude of papers. This heavy flow of information limits the possibility of selecting from a core of information and often prevents radiologists from communicating efficiently with their colleagues in other countries or continents. European radiologists are additionally hampered from participating in international communication because of the language barriers created by the national journals. As a result, Europe's contribution to scientific progress in this interdisciplinary field has influenced only regional developments.

Contents Abdominal and Thoracic Magnetic Resonance Angiography: Challenges, Technical Approaches and First Clinical Applications. H.U. Kauczor, R. Hausmann, W. Semmler Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Skeletal Muscle. F. Tr{ber, W.A. Kaiser, G. Layer, C. Kuhl, M. Reiser Hepatic Tumors: Relaxometry and Quantitative Tissue Characterization with Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A. Steudel, F. Tr{ber, M. Reiser Liver-Specific Particulate Contrast Agents: An Overview I. Ivancev, A. Lunderquist Contrast Medium Induced Nephropathy:Animal Experiments H.S. Thomsen et al. Rheological Properties of Blood after Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterisation with Iopromide. R. Bach et al. Color Coded Doppler Sonography of the Male Urethra During Voiding: New Observations of Flow in an Aqueous Medium and Their Physical Foundations. P. H}bsch, F. Hager, E. Benes Development of a Model of Arterial Stenosis Analysis Using Digital Subtraction Angiography: A Parametric Study of Image Quality. C. Renaudin, I. Magnin, A. Amiel Arterial Calcifications in Thoracoabdominal Computer Tomography: Frequency and Correlation with Risk Factors and Cardiovascular Diseases. J. Grich et al.

The dramatic evolution of new technology in diagnostic and therapeutic radiology has changed the whole field of medicine. Ultrasonography, computed tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and digital radiography are those new techniques which are undergoing continuous development, providing us with increasingly re fined methods for establishing the cause of disease and for treating the patient. Using radiologic technique, ingenious methods are continuously being developed to en sure less expensive, less traumatic, and more efficient therapy. Transluminal angio plasty, embolization of tumors or bleeding vessels, extraction or dissolution of stones, and regional infusions are some of these therapeutic methods in modem diagnostic radiology. Every day new ideas arise which are published in a multitude of papers. This heavy flow of information limits the possibility of selecting from a core of information and often prevents radiologists from communicating efficiently with their colleagues in other countries or continents. European radiologists are additionally hampered from participating in international communication because of the language barriers created by the national journals. As a result, Europe's contribution to scientific progress in this interdisciplinary field has influenced only regional developments.

The second volume of Frontiers in European Radiology covers two very promising techniques in diagnostic radiology, namely digital radiography and nuclear mag netic resonance imaging. Leading experts in both fields from Europe and the Unit ed States were invited to give a critical overview; digital fluoroscopy is reported on mainly by American scientists since this technique has been developed primarily in the United States, while the results of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging are pre sented by British groups currently at the forefront of research in this field. The pa pers reflect the state of the art at mid-1981, when the contributors gathered for the yearly symposium on Current Topics in Diagnostic Radiology in Berne, Switzer land. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, also known as spin imaging or zeugmato graphy, has produced striking progress within the past few years - even within the past few months - as described in three papers of this volume. The images generally reflect the distribution of mobile protons contained within water and fats, and pro vide remarkable discrimination between different tissues. Malignant tissue might be identified with this technique, and a wide range of disorders associated with water concentration, diffusion, and flow would be amenable to study; the measurement of blood flow could be particularly interesting.

Even the earliest applications of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and tomography to medical inquiries, using experimental apparatus that was primitive by today's standards, demonstrated the extraordinary potential of the NMR method. The subsequent rapid advances in this area were due largely to the ef forts of commercial manufacturers, who, by improving magnet and computer designs, were able to produce and market instruments having a remarkable image quality. Experimental data from the ftrst systematic studies on the medical uses of NMR leave little doubt that NMR will gain a permanent place in clinical diagnosis. The clinician, then, is confronted with an entirely new diagnostic modality. Because NMR has been used extensively in chemistry and physics for years, a great many textbooks are already available on the subject. However, the majority of these have been written for the natural scientist who is well versed in mathematics and physics. Assumptions are made and terms are used that would not be appro priate for a medical or biochemical text. The goal of this introduc tion, therefore, is to discuss the principles of the NMR technique in terms that are meaningful to the medical student and medical pro fessional.

One of the most puzzling and striking features of many of the genetically determined progressive neuromuscular diseases such as the spinal muscular atrophies and the muscular dystrophies is that muscular wasting and weak ness in these cases is curiously selective, at least in the early stages, pick ing out certain skeletal muscles and sparing others. The diagnosis of these conditions has largely depended in the past upon the recognition of specific patterns of involvement of individual muscles and muscle groups, taken along with information derived from the mode of inheritance within the in dividual family and the results of special investigations. The investigations of most value have proved to be serum enzyme studies, electromyography and related techniques, and muscle biopsy. The advent of CT scanning has, however, introduced a new dimension; as the authors of this interesting monograph have clearly demonstrated, it is now possible, using the whole body scanner, to define patterns of muscular atrophy in the limbs and trunk much more precisely than by any other method. Not only does this techni que demonstrate which muscles are involved, but the changes in relative density provide useful information about the severity of the process and about the progress of the disease if the studies are performed serially. This monograph is pleasantly written and most attractively illustrated.