Women's imaging: obstetrics and gynecology

Women's imaging is a conglomeration of imaging subspecialities, with women's health the common thread. A recent issue of the Radiologic Clinics of North America edited by Drs. Hricak and Liberman focused on gynecologic oncology with articles on breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancers. The theme of this issue is nononcologic women's imaging, with an emphasis on imaging of benign gynecologic processes and imaging in obstetrics.

Ultrasound is the mainstay of obstetric and gynecologic imaging. Therefore, this issue includes reviews of first trimester sonography, the current “hot topic” of first and second trimester screening for aneuploidy, an overiew of sonohysterography, a detailed description of sonography of twins, a review of the utility of biopsy and sonography in the assessment of postmenopausal bleeding, and a review of breast ultrasound.

Although ultrasound is a commonly used modality for much of women's imaging, MR imaging plays an important role in the evaluation of patients with indeterminate findings on sonography. Therefore this issue contains articles on MR imaging of ovarian lesions and fetal MR imaging.

Articles that span different imaging modalities include imaging in the assessment of infertility and osteoporosis imaging. Experts in ultrasound, mammography, MR imaging, gynecology, and bone radiology are included among the authors. It is my pleasure to present this issue.