An analysis of radiological research publications in high impact general medical journals between 1996 and 2010

ObjectiveTo evaluate scientific papers published by radiologists in high impact general medical journals between 1996 and 2010.MethodsA MEDLINE search was performed in five high impact general medical journals (AIM, BMJ, JAMA, Lancet, and NEJM) for all articles of which a radiologist was the first author between 1996 and 2010. The following information was abstracted from the original articles: radiological subspecialty, imaging technique used, type of research, sample size, study design, statistical analysis, study outcome, declared funding, number of authors, collaboration, and country of the first author.ResultsOf 216 (0.19%) articles were published by radiologists in five general medical journals between 1996 and 2010, 83 were original articles. Fifteen (18.1%) original articles were concerned with the field of vascular/interventional radiology, 24 (28.9%) used combined imaging techniques, 76 (91.6%) were clinical research, 63 (75.9%) had a sample size of >50, 65 (78.3%) were prospective, 78 (94.0%) performed statistical analysis, 83 (100%) showed positive study outcomes, 57 (68.7%) were funded, 49 (59.0%) had from four to seven authors, and 79 (95.2%) were collaborative studies.ConclusionsA very small number (0.19%) in five high impact general medical journals was published by radiologists between 1996 and 2010.

► Radiologists published only 0.2% of articles in five general medical journals.
► Most original articles from radiologists were funded and were prospective studies.
► Radiology researchers from only 11 countries published at least one original article.