doi: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.108.793083
Editorials |
A New Forum for Cardiovascular Imaging Research
From the Noninvasive Cardiovascular Imaging Program, Departments of Medicine (Cardiology) and Radiology, and the Division of Nuclear Medicine/PET, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and the Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass.
Correspondence to Marcelo F. Di Carli, MD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Room AI L1–037C, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115. E-mail mdicarli{at}partners.org
The field of cardiovascular imaging is witnessing an explosive expansion of its armamentarium of noninvasive technologies capable of providing detailed information about the structure and function of the heart and vasculature. Many of these technologies are integrating (eg, positron emission tomography and computed tomography, positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging), compounding the unique strengths of the component technologies to achieve improved diagnosis of disease and better patient care. In addition, the miniaturization of imaging devices with dramatic increases in sensitivity and spatial resolution, coupled with the development of quantitative targeted imaging approaches for evaluating physiology and pathophysiology at the cellular and molecular levels, provides a unique platform for a new era in diagnostic imaging. The crucial role of imaging in early phenotyping of disease, risk definition, management guidance, and outcome assessment is expanding rapidly in ways previously thought unrealistic. These technological advances have ignited an unprecedented convergence of disciplines (cardiology, radiology, nuclear medicine, molecular biology, medical physics, and chemistry) that together are promoting innovation and new clinical applications in cardiovascular imaging. The dramatic growth in both the diversity of imaging options and their complexity forms the basis for the emergence of the proposed cardiovascular "imaging specialist."
The imaging science resulting from these efforts has had increasing difficulty getting published in top-notch general cardiology journals, where it competes with a broad spectrum of articles. Many high-quality articles featuring innovative approaches, often including multiple modalities, have also had difficulty being accepted in subspecialty imaging journals with a more narrow focus.
We are delighted that the American Heart Association and Dr Joseph Loscalzo, editor-in-chief of Circulation, have had the vision to support the field of cardiovascular imaging with a dedicated journal. We are very pleased to welcome you to Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging. This new member of the Circulation portfolio of journals will facilitate dissemination of important advances in cardiovascular imaging to clinicians and investigators in need of more focused knowledge in the field of imaging. Although Circulation will remain the main platform for publication of cardiovascular imaging research with important implications for the broad cardiovascular audience, the new journal will feature outstanding articles with a high impact on clinical practice and an emphasis on patient-centered imaging research, technical innovation, and basic and translational imaging-based research. Articles in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging will be subject to the same high standards as articles in Circulation.
Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging will be published bimonthly in electronic and printed formats, but original research articles accepted for publication will be posted online immediately. The scope of imaging research for this new journal is broad and will include all noninvasive modalities: echocardiography, radionuclide imaging, positron emission tomography/computed tomography, cardiovascular computed tomography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, molecular imaging, and anatomic and functional vascular imaging.
In addition to original research articles, the journal will feature perspectives and contemporary reviews written by leaders in the field. The "Advances in Cardiovascular Imaging" series will include a wide range of topics that are relevant to research in and practice of noninvasive cardiovascular imaging. This series will include clinically relevant, disease-based perspectives on current applications of imaging. The series will also feature novel imaging technologies and their potential clinical roles, as well as reviews on methodological and analytical issues affecting imaging-based research. "Clinical Implications of Imaging Research" will focus on translational aspects of imaging science and bring these research efforts into clinical context. The "Controversies in Imaging" series will feature scientifically grounded expressions of critical opinions and discussions on controversial topics affecting the practice of imaging, including technical aspects of clinical importance and patient-centered approaches to diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease. Opposing viewpoints will be presented in tandem, with rebuttals by both authors included. The "Cardiovascular Images" series will include clinical or basic science images (including video clips) that illustrate important "classic" or novel findings, provide insight into basic mechanisms of disease, or highlight a potential new role for imaging. Cardiovascular Images will be considered for publication in online and printed format.
All manuscripts will be handled under the supervision of the expanded Circulation editorial office staff. Authors have the option of submitting manuscripts to Circulation or to Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging. Authors who submit a manuscript to Circulation that is determined to be of high quality but of insufficient priority for publication in Circulation because of its subspecialty focus will be offered the opportunity to have their manuscript considered for publication in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging. If the authors choose this option, the Circulation reviews will serve as the initial evaluation for Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, and no additional review will be necessary. Authors will be asked to respond to the Circulation reviewers’ comments and to submit a revision to Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging for a final decision. Although acceptance will not be guaranteed, this process will take far less time than resubmitting a manuscript de novo to another journal.
Imaging is profoundly changing the practice of clinical medicine, and there are few areas where this is as true as in the field of cardiovascular disease. Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging will now offer a new forum for timely dissemination of important information about advances in imaging to keep investigators and clinicians at the cutting edge of imaging science and its applications to clinical practice.
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Disclosures
None.
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