Computerization of the radiological image (digitization, com puted tomography), the diagnostic contributions of ultra sonography, and the advent of magnetic resonance imaging all herald a new era in radiology. While this discipline retains its clinical nature, and continues to group together various specialities, the technical "common denominator" plays an increasingly important role, and requires a more global ap proach to the clinical problem. Centralization of state-of-the-art equipment in technical imaging centers - strategic points in future hospitals - will al low clinical radiologists to perform all of the examinations re quired for diagnosis and follow-up with a high degree of reli ability, under optimum security, and at the lowest possible cost. This is the right moment to publish this treatise, as we begin to apply this new approach to radiological studies. For purposes of clarity, the lymphomatous processes have been dealt with by anatomical location; more important, though, is the discussion of the multiple aspects of diagnosis, with particular emphasis on recent noninvasive modalities (characteristic visceral lesions; analysis and characterization of the anatomical and tissue components of these lesions with the highest possible degree of precision; regional disease ex tension and anatomical features; information on concomitant regional involvement and distant sites), allowing selection of appropriate therapy and surveillance strategies."

Owing to the anatomic complexity of the neck and the diver sity of pathologic entities affecting it, the cervical region has long been of great semiological interest. Physical examination is an easy means of evaluating the size and origin of a solitary cervical mass, yet valid interpretation can prove difficult when the normal morphology of the neck has been altered; excellent examples are patients with extensive fibrosis or scarring secondary to previous irradiation or surgery. Like wise, physical examination cannot assess the relations of a pathologic process to adjacent structures - e. g., invasion can not be distinguished from simple displacement -and it is un suitable for monitoring therapeutic efficacy, such as the re sponse of metastatic nodes to medical management. Between physical examination, which remains fundamental, and exploratory surgical procedures, which are often the only means of obtaining indispensable anatomic proof for diagno sis, lie a number of recent imaging techniques including com puted tomography and magnetic resonance imaging using surface coils that provide invaluable information for the in vestigation of cervical pathologies. Real-time ultrasonogra phy occupies a privileged position because of its noninvasive ness, rapidity, and reliability, especially when performed by a specially trained examiner."