1. About the journal
Imagen Diagnóstica is a diamond open access journal and the official publication of the Catalan Association of Diagnostic Imaging Technicians. We publish in Spanish and English and consider scientific and professional contributions related to diagnostic imaging in any modality, image-guided medical treatment, and imaging technology.
2. Publication frequency
The journal publishes one volume per year, consisting of two issues: June and December.
3. What we publish
Article types (typical)
Original Research
Systematic Reviews and Narrative Reviews
Technical Notes / Methods / Protocols
Clinical Practice Guidelines / Recommendations
Brief Communications
Case Reports and Clinical Images (must have clear educational value and required patient consent where applicable)
Perspectives / Editorials
Letters to the Editor
If you are unsure which article type fits best, email the editorial office before submission.
4. How to submit
Submission method
Manuscripts are submitted by email to: editor@imagendiagnostica.org
Accepted file formats
You may submit in any standard format, including:
Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx)
LaTeX (source files)
You may also include a PDF for reviewer convenience, but please always attach the editable source (Word or LaTeX).
What to include in your submission email
Manuscript file (Word or LaTeX)
Figures as separate files (recommended)
Cover letter (recommended)
Supplementary material (optional)
5. Manuscript preparation
Language
Submissions are accepted in English or Spanish. Authors are responsible for clear, professional language. If accepted, minor language edits may be requested before publication.
General formatting (recommended)
Use a standard, readable font and line spacing
Number pages (and preferably line numbers)
Define abbreviations at first use
Use SI units where applicable
Ensure all figures/tables are cited in the text
Standard manuscript structure (recommended)
Title
Author names and affiliations
Corresponding author details (email)
Abstract and keywords
Main text (see below)
References
Tables (or separate)
Figure captions (grouped at end or near figures)
Declarations (conflicts, funding, ethics, data availability)
Main text structure (typical for research)
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
Limitations (recommended)
Abstract and keywords
Provide an abstract appropriate for the article type (structured abstracts are encouraged for research)
Provide 3–6 keywords (use standard terms where possible)
6. Figures, tables, and supplementary files
Figures
Submit as separate files where possible (JPG/PNG/TIFF preferred; vector formats acceptable for diagrams)
Ensure patient privacy: remove identifiers and obtain consent when required
Do not over-edit images. Any adjustments must be applied to the whole image and must not change meaning.
Tables
Create tables using Word/LaTeX table tools (avoid screenshots of tables)
Include a concise title and define all abbreviations in footnotes
Supplementary material
You may submit appendices, datasets, checklists, videos, or additional figures/tables. Clearly label files (e.g., “Supplementary Figure S1”).
7. References
Reference style
Use a numbered citation style (Vancouver-style is recommended): citations in the text as numbers in the order they appear, and the reference list numbered accordingly.
Reference quality
Cite primary sources when possible
Ensure references are complete and accurate (authors, title, journal, year, volume, pages, DOI if available)
8. Ethics, consent, and integrity
Human participants and patient information
For studies involving humans, include the relevant ethics approval information (committee name, approval number when available). For case reports and clinical images, include a clear statement confirming written informed consent when a patient could be identifiable.
Conflicts of interest
All authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial). If none, state: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Funding
List all sources of funding or support. If none, state: This work received no specific funding.
Originality and duplicate submission
Submissions must be original and not under review elsewhere. Plagiarism, duplicate publication, and data fabrication/falsification are not accepted.
Authorship
Authorship should reflect substantial contributions (concept/design, data, analysis, drafting/revision, and approval of final version). Any authorship changes after submission require justification and agreement from all authors.
9. Peer review and editorial decisions
Peer review model
Imagen Diagnóstica uses a single-blind peer review process: reviewers know author identities, but reviewer identities are not disclosed to authors unless a reviewer signs their review.
Editorial outcomes
Decisions may include: accept, minor revision, major revision, or reject. The final decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief (or delegated editor) based on reviewer reports and editorial assessment.
Revisions
When invited to revise, submit:
A clean revised manuscript
A marked-up version (recommended)
A point-by-point response to reviewers
Appeals
Authors may appeal decisions with a clear, evidence-based explanation. Appeals are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and may involve additional editorial assessment.
10. Open access, copyright, and APCs
Article Processing Charges (APCs)
There are no submission fees and no APCs. The journal is diamond open access.
License and copyright
Articles are published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Copyright remains with the author(s), and reuse is permitted with appropriate attribution, a link to the license, and an indication of changes.
11. After acceptance
Accepted manuscripts proceed to copyediting and production. Authors may receive proofs for final checks (spelling, figure placement, metadata accuracy). Substantive changes at proof stage may be limited.
12. Contact
For submissions and inquiries: editor@imagendiagnostica.org