Guest E d i t o r i a l : Images and Imagination

T HE DICTIONARY definition of the word 'Image is extremely broad and equally

variable. What purpose might be served in pro- ducing a special issue of Seminars that empha- sizes Functional Imaging? Physicians and medi- cal scientists are dependent on information obtained from images in making many important decisions. Employment of this information in biomedical context has the intent of regional definition of the normal and the pathologic state. This use of images is central to the acquisition of such information, irrespective of whatever means of image production is used. A variety of physical or chemical processes may define the mechanism of the imaging modality; also, the image may be obtained under the influence of many diverse interventions. It can be categorically stated that the biologic object that is reproduced as an image is never reconstituted in its entirety in the pro- duction of the image to be examined. As stated in this issue by Michael Goris, " . . . imaging is a

form of information extraction, and by necessity is associated with information loss." The solving of medical problems by the use of appropriate images requires that the medical professional be educated to exercise the fine judgment needed in determining what information should be ob- tained to solve the problems, and should have available the means or advice to define the proper imaging technique.

The various contributors to this issue have demonstrated that in extracting the desired information, whether morphologic or functional goals are projected, the options offered by the ever expanding technology must be addressed with knowledge, insight, and imagination.

Ervin Kaplan, MD Maynard L. Freeman

Veterans Administration Hospital Hines, IL

Guest Editors

2 Seminars in Nuclear Medicine, Vol XVII, No 1 (January), 1987: p 2