Introduction: The evidence-based foundation of the health professions is dependent on research and its dissemination through peerreviewed journals. The growth of a health profession is dependent on the sharing of knowledge. Various metrics have been used to measure the quality of journals, articles, and authors. These metrics, however, have many flaws. Publication productivity and patterns provide better insights that can guide professional and journal strategy. Methodology: Bibliometric data were collected from seven key peerreviewed, international journals for the medical radiation sciences. These key journals were examined over the period 2009-2013 inclusive (5 years). Medical radiation technologists (MRTs) who had published two or more articles in the seven journals during the study period were further investigated through PubMed and ResearchGate to produce a list of publications (excluding those already identified in the seven primary journals) from the 5-year period. Further analysis was performed on the most prolific authors. Results: A total of 969 articles were published in the seven key peerreview journals that met the inclusion criteria. The 969 articles were written by a total of 2,083 different authors. Overall, 80.5% (1,676 of 2,083) of all authors only published once within the seven journals and 110 of these authors were the sole author of their article. A total of 165 MRTs were identified who had published three or more articles. Conclusion: MRTs contribute significantly to the knowledge base of both the medical radiation science professions and the wider health community through active research. R esultats : Au total, 969 articles ont et e publi es dans les sept revues cl es avec comit e de lecture r epondant aux crit eres d'inclusion. Les 969 articles ont et e r edig es par 2083 auteurs diff erents, dont 80,5 % (1676/2083) n'ont publi e qu'une seule fois dans les sept revues; 110 de ces auteurs avaient ecrit seuls l'article. Nous avons recens e 165 TRM ayant publi e au moins trois articles. Conclusion : Les TRM apportent une contribution significative a la base de connaissance des professions de SRM et a la communaut e plus large de la sant e par une participation active a la recherche.

Publications form the knowledge base of any profession. Patterns in professional publications provide insight into the profession's maturity and global status. To our knowledge, publication productivity in nuclear medicine technology has not been reported. A recent study on publication productivity in radiography and radiation therapy provided interesting insight; however, a sampling bias resulted in study flaws. Methods: The most productive medical radiation technologists were determined by collecting data from 7 key, international peer-reviewed journals for the medical radiation sciences over a 5-y period. A full list of the technologists' publications, for the 5-y period, was obtained using a PubMed and ResearchGate search, and the authors were analyzed. Results: In total, 165 medical radiation technologists were identified who had published 3 or more articles between 2009 and 2013. Of these authors, 55.2% (91/165) were radiographers, 35.2% (58/165) were radiation therapists, and 9.6% (16/165) were nuclear medicine technologists. Overall, the majority of the most prolific authors were academics (104/165; 63.0%). After we applied a correction factor (the productivity per member of the registered workforce), radiography had the fewest authors publishing, compared with the relative workflow sizes. Conclusion: Nuclear medicine technologists demonstrated a high degree of productivity both absolutely and relatively. Consequently, nuclear medicine technologists have a productive research culture and command a large footprint within and outside the key medical radiation science journals.

This case study presents an incidental noting of a lingual thyroid on thyroid scintigraphy that had implications in later breast surgery. This information changed patient management and mitigated risk during intubation for breast cancer surgery.