Subsequent publication of orally presented original studies within 5 years after 1995 RSNA Scientific Assembly

To determine the rate at which original studies that were presented orally at the 1995 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Scientific Assembly were published in Medline-indexed journals and to identify factors predictive of publication.

The 1995 RSNA Scientific Program was jointly reviewed by two readers. A total of 1,897 abstracts were included in the study. A Medline search of articles published between 1996 and 2000 was then conducted to identify articles written by the first, second, and/or last authors of all abstracts published in the 1995 RSNA Scientific Program. The year of publication, journal, country origin of the abstract, subspecialty, and nature of the research (ie, human, animal, or technical) were recorded. Publication rates were compared by using multiple logistic regression analysis.

Six hundred thirty-five abstracts were expanded into manuscripts that were subsequently published in Medline-indexed journals; thus, the publication rate was 33%. A study was published less than 3 years after the 1995 scientific assembly in 595 (94%) cases. Genitourinary radiology and chest radiology studies had the highest publication rates (46% and 48%, respectively; P <.01), whereas physics studies had the lowest (24%, P <.001). Technical studies (24%, P <.001) were less likely than human studies (36%, P <.001) to be published. The publication rate also differed substantially according to the country origin of the abstract. The articles were published in a total of 109 journals and chiefly in Radiology (211 cases, 33% of published studies).

One-third of original studies presented orally at the 1995 scientific assembly were subsequently published in Medline-indexed journals. More articles were published in Radiology than in any other identified journal.