Diversity and emergence in biomedical imaging

This brief survey introduces and reviews the two main paradigms in biomedical imaging - the medical approach which is clinically oriented and the engineering approach driven by methodological concerns. This paper also introduces the major challenges that face biomedical imaging at the beginning of the third millenium. The following issues are sketched: imaging modalities (including image reconstruction problem), quantification of structures and functions, interventional imaging and virtual reality. In addition, particular emphasis is given to the brain and to genomics and molecular concerns. Lastly, a brief discussion is presented regarding two particular topics for biomedical imaging in terms of technological answers to be developed to face a specific clinical problem.