American Journal of Roentgenology

The American Journal of Roentgenology, also known as AJR, is a peer-reviewed monthly journal published by the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS). Its current editor in chief (as the editor of the AJR is styled) is Dr Thomas H Berquist. 

History

The American Roentgen Ray Society was founded in 1900 by a small coterie of physicians convened by Heber Roberts in St Louis, Missouri. Dr Roberts already published The American X-Ray Journal, which in 1902 was renamed the Transactions of the American Roentgen Ray Society. This annual journal contained reports from the committees of the ARRS, minutes from official meetings and presented papers from their scientific meetings.

It rapidly became apparent that an annual publication would not suffice for the rapid growth in all the radiological research taking place. Therefore it was replaced by a new journal the American Quarterly of Roentgenology which first appeared in 1907. Its first editor was Dr Preston M Hickey. After several years quarterly publication was not frequent enough to adequately meet the needs of the expanding radiological community. Therefore in 1913 it became a monthly publication and was renamed the American Journal of Roentgenology. 

Dr Hickey resigned in 1916 after a decade at the helm. He was succeeded by Dr James T Case, but he was only editor for two years as in 1918 he was conscripted to the war effort. It later transpired that for much of Dr Case's editorship the work was performed by one of his clinical colleagues, Dr Augustus Crane, who was editor, in all but name, from 1917 to 1918.

In 1916 the American Radium Society was founded. Dr H M Imboden was editor from 1918-1923 and in 1922 it was agreed that the American Journal of Roentgenology would also be the official journal for the American Radium Society; therefore it was renamed the American Journal of Roentgenology and Radium Therapy. 

Dr Imboden was succeeded in 1923 by Dr Arthur Christie who served for 7 years. He increased the number of annual volumes from one to two, in a stroke doubling the number of papers published by AJR. He also increased the number of abstracts from other journals including for the first time, abstracts from non-imaging journals, that might nevertheless be of interest to the radiology readership.

Dr Lawrence Reynolds became editor in 1930 and his 31-year tenure has been the longest to date. There was some controversy during his editorship due to his accepting up to 85% of submitted papers [it was 35% in 1988]. This created a huge backlog. However Dr Reynolds also oversaw a huge rise in subscriptions such that the AJR had the highest circulation of any radiology journal in the US at that time.

Dr Reynolds died in office in 1961 and, his colleague, Dr Traian Leucutia then assumed the editor's chair. During Dr Leucutia's editorship, in the 1960s, nuclear medicine was emerging as an important new modality and the journal was renamed The American Journal of Roentgenology, Radium Therapy, and Nuclear Medicine. 

In 1965 the number of published papers had again increased so much that each issue had become unreasonably large, and subsequently there was an increase to three annual volumes. After Dr Leucutia relinquished the editorship in 1975, Dr E Frederick Lang, was acting editor for one year only.

In 1976 Dr Melvin Figley assumed the mantle of the editor. The editorial office was moved to Seattle, after 45 years in Detroit. For the first time the editors were remunerated for their role and associate editors were appointed. The output of papers from the American Radium Society slowed to a trickle by the mid-1970s and therefore the official linkage between it and the AJR was concluded in 1977. The journal changed its name back to the American Journal of Roentgenology in 1976. Some advocated updating the title to the American Journal of Radiology but it was decided to maintain its historical associations by retaining "Roentgenology" in the title. Mandatory peer review was also introduced during Dr Figley's time in charge.

Dr Figley was also involved in an agreement between the AJR and the American Society of Neuroradiology leading to the founding of the new American Journal of Neuroradiology which first appeared in 1980. 

Editors

1. 1907-1916 Preston M Hickey
2. 1916-1918 James T Case
3. 1918-1923 H M Imboden
4. 1923-1930 Arthur Christie
5. 1930-1961 Lawrence Reynolds
6. 1961-1975 Traian Leucutia
7. 1975-1976 E Frederick Lang (acting editor)
8. 1976-1985 Melvin Figley
9. 1985--1995 Robert N Berk
10. 1995-2003 Lee F Rogers
11. 2003-2008 Robert J Stanley
12. 2008-current Thomas H Berquist