ABSTRACT
The digital image has become an important carrier of information that supports diagnostics and therapeutics in medicine. Today there are a number of different imaging modalities that each reflects different tissue properties and are based on different technical principles. Together these techniques form a tremendous arsenal for patient diagnostics. Although the underlying physical and technical principles differ between modalities, there are some common principles in medical imaging. A basic understanding of the components of the digital image, how its information can be displayed and analysed, as well as its inherent limitations, is important for an adequate use. The ambition to use a common terminology and knowledge base to describe basic image properties is regarded important to maintaining a framework that enables translation of knowledge between the different specialties, of benefit for future development of the medical imaging field.
