Computerization of the radiological image (digitization, com puted tomography), the diagnostic contributions of ultra sonography, and the advent of magnetic resonance imaging all herald a new era in radiology. While this discipline retains its clinical nature, and continues to group together various specialities, the technical "common denominator" plays an increasingly important role, and requires a more global ap proach to the clinical problem. Centralization of state-of-the-art equipment in technical imaging centers - strategic points in future hospitals - will al low clinical radiologists...