This Festschrift Volume prepared by the students and friends of Prof. Dr. med. F. Linder to honor the occasion of his 70th birthday presents a remarkable collection of interesting and important subjects in the field of surgical oncology. A fitting tribute it is, as Prof. Linder during his professional career has had a keen interest in oncology and has made important contributions to our knowledge in many of the diverse diseases discussed in this volume. But it is not alone the academic and professional career of this remarkable man that this volume salutes. It is the man himself who is honored; the man who has provided the stimulus, the encouragement and the leadership for the professional development of this group of distinguished contrib- utors. Professor Dr. med. F. Linder, or "Fritz" as he is affectionately known by surgeons in so many countries, is truly a "surgeon of the world". He is one of those rare individuals who has created such close per- sonal friendships around the world that he would be welcomed, and would feel perfectly at home, in departments of surgery in many lands.