Preface

Mammography remains at the backbone of medical tools to examine the human breast. The early detection of breast cancer typically uses adjunct tests to mammogram such as ultra‐ sound, positron emission mammography, electrical impedance, Computer-aided detection systems and others. In the present digital era it is even more important to use the best new techniques and systems available to improve the correct diagnosis and to prevent mortality from breast cancer.

This book is designed to provide an up to date impression of the state-of-the-art in mam‐ mography techniques and new trends. Each chapter contains a review or future directions and challenges in their respective areas. I hope the reader can obtain an accurate impression of the pace of research in these areas. Nevertheless, the breast cancer detection exams con‐ tinually present new challenges. Will the new techniques and methods ever be able to pre‐ vent breast cancer before it indeed occurs? Will the new methods combined with Computeraided Artificial Intelligence Systems withdraw the physicians from the process? That questions remains uncertain, but clearly the field will remain an exciting research area for many years to come.

> **Fabiano Cavalcanti Fernandes** Federal Institute of Brasilia (IFB), Brazil

> > **Lourdes Mattos Brasil** University of Brasilia (UnB), Brazil

**Renato da Veiga Guadagnin** Catholic University of Brasilia (UCB), Brazil
