Radiologic Clinics Of North America Women’s Imaging An Oncologic Focus

Radiol Clin N Am 40 (2002) xi – xii Preface Women’s imaging: an oncologic focus Laura Liberman, MD Hedvig Hricak, MD, PhD Guest Editors Advances in imaging technology have expanded the radiologist’s role in detection, diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of women with cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 647,400 new cases of cancer in women in the United States in 2002, of which over half will be cancers of the breast or genital organs. Breast cancer will be diagnosed in 257,800 women (invasive in 203,500 and in situ in 54,300); an additional 81,400 women will be diagnosed with gynecologic malignancies. This issue of the Radiologic Clinics of North America focuses on the role of modern imaging techniques in treating women with breast and gynecologic cancers. Controversies remain regarding many aspects of breast imaging. Does screening mammography reduce breast cancer mortality? How useful is the standardized language used to describe mammograms? Can other modalities such as ultrasound or MR imaging supplement mammography in breast cancer screening and staging? What is the role of digital imaging and other new technologies? Articles addressing these issues should be of value to radiologists and clinicians who refer women for screening or diagnostic examinations of the breast. The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer are often minimally invasive, with percutaneous biopsy for diagnosis and breast conserving therapy. How does one select the appropriate percutaneous biopsy method, and which lesions warrant excision after percutaneous biopsy? How does one track the patient after breast conservation, to assess adequacy of excision and diagnose recurrent disease? Analysis of these issues should be of use to practitioners. Close coordination is necessary between the radiologist and clinicians caring for the patient, as illustrated in