Confronted with myriads ofTs, N's and M's in the VICC TNM booklet, classifying a malignancy may seem to many cancer clini cians a tedious, dull and pedantic task. But then when he looks into the TNM-Atlas all of a sudden lifeless categories become vi vid images, challenging his know-how and his investigational skills. Prof. Dr. Brigit van der Werf-Messing, Chairman of the International TNM-Committee of the VICC. Preface In 1938 the League of Nations Health Organization published an "Atlas illustrating the division of cancer of the uterine cervix into four stages according to the anatomo-clinical extent of the growth". Since this work appeared, the idea of visual representation of the anatomical extent of malignant tumours at the different stages of their development has been repeatedly discussed. At its meeting in Copenhagen in July 1954, the VICC adopted as part of its programme "the realization of a clinical atlas". However, the time to do the planned illustration work was not ripe until the National Committees and international organiza tions had officially recognized the 28 classifications of malignant tumours at various sites as presented in the 3rd edition of the "TNM Booklet" (1978) edited by M. Harmer. This was all the more important since in 1980, in addition to the "Booklet", a "Brochure of Checklists" edited by A.H. Sellers was made available as a further aid in the practical application of the TNMsystem