Fundamentals of Virtual Colonoscopy

It is my pleasure to present the “fundamentals” version of Atlas of Virtual Colonoscopy, which was first published in 2003 in two parts. The first, which is reprinted here, consists of nine expertly authored chapters that serve as an e- cational module and reference for a rapid review of critical areas of study. S- entific advances in research, particularly the publication of clinical trials and the gradual acceptance of virtual colonoscopy in nonresearch settings, have created a demand for this information. Yet only limited educational venues are available for those seeking courses, tutorials, and published study material. The atlas from which these chapters are derived, remains the only text of its kind on the topic, and in spite of advances since initial publication, its content remains largely up to date and relevant. This is due in part to several factors. The original text was updated shortly prior to submission, and Springer did an outstanding production job of publishing the book quickly. The authorship of the atlas is broad based, with top international researchers in the field as contributors. Because the book is written by individuals involved in cutting-edge research, it includes infor- tion that has only subsequently appeared in the peer-reviewed literature. For - ample, computer-aided diagnosis is well covered in the atlas, even though c- mercialization of this software is not expected until next year. Thus, several topics are ahead of their time, thus keeping the contents relevant.