The inauguration of iRADIOLOGY

Abstract

The first X-ray image of a human hand was taken by Wilhelm C. Röntgen. This achievement marked the beginning of modern medical imaging: Information within living bodies could be noninvasively visualized for the first time, bringing together radiology and medical imaging. Since then, new knowledge and advancements in this field have been rapidly emerging, with no sign of ever reaching a stopping point.

Supported by increasingly powerful computers, X-ray technologies such as computed tomography (CT) provide three-dimensional anatomical images with high resolution and great accuracy, making them the most important tools and gold standards in clinical diagnosis. Gamma rays and positron emissions generated by radionuclides represent other forms of radiation harnessed by clinical imaging, which have led to the development of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET). These imaging modalities realize three-dimension functional and metabolic imaging noninvasively and are widely used in oncology as powerful diagnostic and research tools.

Optical imaging (OI) involves photons within the visible spectrum and surrounding regions (ultraviolet and near infrared). These radiations carry much lower energy, offering several advantages such as their nonionizing character, ease of use, and high spatial and temporal resolutions. OI operating within the second near infrared region represents another attractive research hotspot in the field of medical imaging. Its ability to achieve deep tissue penetration, combined with low biological background signal, supports broad clinical application. Imaging modalities such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ultrasound (US) have undergone important developments in recent years and have been widely used in soft tissue imaging. They have contributed irreplaceable and valuable information for condition assessment and medical decision-making.

Equipped with radioactive molecular probes, PET and SPECT are now progressing into a new era of medical imaging: molecular imaging. Unlike CT and related technologies that specialize in the presentation of anatomical information, molecular imaging can visualize biophysical activity in 3D at the molecular level with high resolution, greatly complementing traditional medical imaging. This methodology has played a significant role in many areas, such as clinical diagnosis, therapy monitoring, preclinical disease research, drug discovery, and drug development. Current research efforts are also being directed toward designing imaging probes for other medical imaging modalities, including CT, OI, MRI, and US. These technologies are being intensively investigated with the goal of broadening their use in molecular imaging, offering more imaging perspectives and dimensions. Molecular imaging is now one of the primary driving forces of current medical imaging research and is expected to advance the field in several key directions.

With all these advancing technologies and modalities, medical imaging has become intimately involved in the process of clinical treatment and has become the third largest clinical discipline through its integration with many specialties. Intensive and active research is being conducted in this multidisciplinary field, creating tremendous demand for the communication of scientific findings, ideas, and opinions. iRADIOLOGY is an open access and peer-reviewed international journal that focuses on the publication of high-quality scientific works in the field of medical imaging and related multidisciplinary research, with particular attention to their development and application in both fundamental research and clinical practice for the achievement of precision medicine and health. iRADIOLOGY is the official journal of the Chinese Society of Molecular Imaging in Chinese Biophysical Society, aiming to promote the prosperity and development of molecular imaging research and application.

The “i” of iRADIOLOGY stands for integration, innovation, insight, interdisciplinary, international, and intelligence. After decades of development, imaging diagnosis has progressed from relying solely on morphological changes to a comprehensive diagnostic system that integrates morphology, function, metabolism, and molecular changes. Recent developments in medical imaging show a trend toward cross-integration with multidisciplinary subjects, such as artificial intelligence, big data mining, pathology, genetics, pharmacy, chemistry, materials science, and bioengineering. This broad discipline involves outstanding efforts from researchers across the world. iRADIOLOGY will bring together all research areas mentioned above and will offer insights into both fundamental and clinical aspects of state-of-the-art medical imaging. The journal will serve as a platform for effective communication and presentation of rapidly emerging innovations in these disciplines.

The support and contributions of research colleagues in medical imaging and related disciplines are indispensable and important for the future success of iRADIOLOGY. We sincerely welcome and deeply appreciate your support in any form. It is our wish that iRADIOLOGY promotes the development of medical imaging and, in so doing, benefit the cause of human health.

Zhen Cheng: Conceptualization (lead); Writing – original draft (lead); Writing – review & editing (lead).

The author declares no conflicts of interest.

This article here has adhered to the relevant ethical guidelines.