Manuscript Submission Checklist  ▪  Printable Version

Authors are strongly encouraged to refer to this checklist before submitting the manuscript. The checklist summarizes important requirements, some of which must be fulfilled before a manuscript can be reviewed and some of which may help reduce the number of revisions requested by the Editor and reviewers. Authors will be required to complete all steps marked Incomplete before the system will allow final submission of a manuscript.

Abstract | More Information

☐ Is the abstract a summary of the article (rather than an introduction)?
☐ Does the abstract state why the topic is important?
☐ Does the abstract contain the most important facts presented in the article?
☐ Is the abstract 250 words or less?
☐ Did you include a brief Summary Statement (for the Table of Contents)?

Introduction | More Information

☐ Is there sufficient background information to understand why the topic is important?
☐ Does the Introduction state the purpose of the article?
☐ Is there a brief description of subtopics?

Text | More Information

☐ Do the major headings match the list of subtopics in the Introduction?
☐ Are abbreviations used only when necessary and spelled out at first mention? Are they standard (not jargon)?
☐ For any trademarks, have you provided a generic description and the manufacturer's name and location?
☐ Are radiation measurements and laboratory values given in SI units?
☐ Is there a Summary or Conclusions section (with your conclusions and a brief review of the important facts)?

References | More Information

☐ Have you made discriminatory choices among references and used 75 or less?
☐ Did you use the standard RSNA format for references?
☐ Have you checked each reference for bibliographic accuracy?
☐ Are the references numbered in the order they are cited?

Legends | More Information

☐ Does each legend (and its figure) support the point being made in the text?
☐ Does each legend describe what is actually seen in the image (rather than simply repeating the text)?
☐ Does each legend begin with the diagnosis or the topic illustrated?
☐ For cases of disease, does the legend include the age and sex of the patient and any relevant patient history?
☐ For radiologic images, does the legend include the type of image, the imaging plane, and important imaging parameters?
☐ For photomicrographs, does the legend include the original magnification and the histologic stain?
☐ Have you provided a collective listing of figure legends following the references?
☐ Have you copied and pasted the legend to the page with its corresponding figure part?

Figures | More Information

☐ Have the best, least redundant figures been included, with the total count no more than 40 images?
☐ Are all image parts for each figure of a similar size?
☐ Is the orientation of each figure correct?
☐ Is each figure, including drawings, correctly labeled and identified? Do keys match the legend?
☐ Are your keys (arrows, letters) clearly visible?
☐ Are all figures cited in text, numbered in the order they are cited?
☐ For initial submission of your manuscript, have you saved your images as JPEGs and embedded them in a separate document file?
☐ For final submission of your manuscript, have you prepared a separate, duplicate set of images saved in TIFF or PSD format? For these final images,
☐ Have you used 1,200 ppi and bitmap mode for line art?
☐ Have you used 300 ppi and gray-scale mode for halftones?
☐ Have you used 300 ppi and CMYK mode for color images?
☐ For images with keys or text labels, have you used 600 ppi, positioned the labels on layers, kept the layers separate (ie, not merged), and saved the files in PSD format?
☐ Have you saved each figure part as a separate image file?

Tables | More Information

☐ Does each table have a descriptive and specific title?
☐ Are all abbreviations in the table explained in a footnote?
☐ Are all tables cited in text, numbered in the order they are cited?
☐ Are the tables in a separate document file?

☐ Did you read the CME Question Writing Guidelines?
☐ Did you provide three Learning Objectives for the test?
☐ Did you provide a total of 10 multiple-choice questions, each with only four answer choices?
☐ Did you provide two questions that are image based (ie, did you write a question about a specific image, which you identify, and give four possible answers)?
☐ Did you avoid negatively structured questions (eg, "Which of the following is not...")?
☐ Did you avoid using the terms "never" and "always" in the questions and answer choices?
☐ Did you avoid using "all of the above" and "none of the above" as answers?
☐ Did you double check that the questions, correct answers, and incorrect distractors match the information given in the article?
☐ Did you double check that only one answer is correct for each question and that you have provided a reference for the correct answer?
☐ Did you provide an answer key?
☐ Did you clearly identify the locations of the correct answers in the manuscript?

☐ Is the manuscript double-spaced with 1-inch margins (including references, legends, and tables)?
☐ Is the manuscript paginated?
☐ Will the manuscript authorship be anonymous to the reviewer?
☐ Are the Full Title Page and Acknowledgments in a separate document file? Are the abbreviated Title Page, Abstract, References, Legends in another document file?
☐ Does the Full Title Page include the following essential elements:
☐ First name, middle initial, and last name of each author
☐ Degrees for all authors
☐ Complete street address (including building or room number), NOT a PO box
☐ Phone, fax, and e-mail information for the corresponding author
☐ Space/reference number of your exhibit
☐ Any award your exhibit received
☐ Is the Copyright Agreement signed by all co-authors and ready to submit?
☐ Are any required permissions for reprinting previously published images and tables ready to submit?
☐ Has the permission been granted for print and online use?
☐ Is the permission for online use completely unrestricted?
☐ Have you obtained written consent for Acknowledgment (if necessary) for all persons who contributed to the scientific content of the manuscript?
☐ Has each author completed the Financial Disclosure section?