Medical image falsification in radiology science

To investigate the experience of radiology researchers with medical image falsification in the scientific literature.

Corresponding authors of articles published in the top 12 general radiology journals in 2024 were invited to take part in a survey regarding medical image falsification in the scientific literature.

A total of 310 corresponding authors participated in this survey. Thirty-seven participants (11.9 %) reported having committed some form of medical image falsification in the past five years, while 115 participants (37.1 %) reported witnessing such falsification by colleagues during the same period. Cherry-picking images to support conclusions (i.e. selectively choosing specific, nonrepresentative images that confirm a desired result or argument) was the most common type of medical image falsification (50.3 %), followed by duplicating or reusing images without formal permission (24.9 %), and enhancing images in such a way that in results in the misrepresentation of data or findings (13.7 %). Being female was significantly associated with lower odds of committing medical image falsification in the past five years compared to being male (odds ratio (OR): 0.154, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.045-0.531; P = 0.003). Similarly, researchers without a medical doctor (MD) degree were less likely to have committed falsification than those with an MD degree (OR: 0.286, 95 % CI: 0.096-0.848; P = 0.024).

A substantial share of radiology researchers has engaged in falsifying medical images in the scientific literature over the last five years. Female gender and not holding an MD degree were both significantly associated with lower odds of committing medical image falsification.