It Itis is 1984, 1984, a a year year immortalized immortalizedby by George GeorgeOrwell Orwell some some35 35 year year ago. ago. In In 1949, 1949, he he prophesized prophesized a a world worlddominated dominated by by television television images images and andelectronic electronic communica- communica- tions. Orwell's vision of an incredible technologic revolution is the reality of the tions. Orwell'svisionofanincredibletechnologicrevolutionistherealityofthe 1980's. 1980's. Over Over the the past past three threedecades, decades, this this technical technicalexplosion explosion has has impacted impacted on on all all levels levelsof of society, society, including including the the practice practice of ofMedicine. Medicine. In 1949, the cardiologist had available to him only his stethoscope, the chest In1949, thecardiologisthadavailabletohimonlyhisstethoscope, thechest roentgenogram, roentgenogram, the theelectrocardiogram, electrocardiogram, and and his hisclinical clinical astuteness. astuteness. In In 1984, 1984, the the cardiologist still requires great clinical skills, but also has available to him echo- cardiologiststillrequiresgreatclinicalskills, butalsohasavailabletohimecho- cardiography, cardiography, radionuclide radionuclideperfusion perfusion and and functional functional tests, tests, digital digital radiography, radiography, computed computed tomography, tomography, positron positronemission emission tomography, tomography, and and nuclear nuclearmagnetic magnetic resonance resonanceimaging. imaging. These These imaging imagingmodalities modalities are are the theresult result of ofthe the development developmentof of the the digital digitalcomputer, computer, and and the theexplosive explosive advances advances in in microelectronics. microelectronics. Cardiac Cardiac imaging imaginghas has rapidly rapidlyevolved evolved into intoa a specialized specialized area area of of interest interestshared shared by by cardiolo- cardiolo- gists, radiologists, engineers, physicists, and statisticians. Our book, Digital gists, radiologists, engineers, physicists, andstatisticians.
