Ultrasonography in 2026: accelerating progress and defining the future of ultrasound

We present the January 2026 issue of Ultrasonography. As we transition into the new year, we reflect on 2025, a year that strongly reinforced the journal’s position as a core platform for disseminating cutting-edge medical ultrasound research in a field advancing at an exhilarating pace. A significant milestone achieved during this period was the successful transition to a bimonthly publication schedule in January 2024 (Volume 43, Issue 1). This strategic acceleration ensures that high-impact research, covering new diagnostic concepts, technical developments, and clinical insights, reaches our global community of readers more rapidly. This commitment is particularly vital for a rapidly evolving discipline such as ultrasonography and is intended to further enhance the journal’s visibility and scholarly impact, as we strive to attain Q1 ranking in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Imaging [1].

The articles published throughout Volume 44 highlight several key areas that are driving the future of ultrasound. Three overarching themes consistently emerged in the most-read and most-cited articles: artificial intelligence (AI) integration, quantitative ultrasound techniques, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). AI integration into ultrasound has become a clinical reality. Published research spans deep learning for automated analysis, decision support systems, and specialized educational tools for non-specialists, underscoring AI’s potential to standardize and elevate practice across diverse clinical settings [2–4]. Similarly, a substantial body of research moved beyond purely morphological assessment to extract quantitative and functional data. We published studies on novel, noninvasive parameters, such as the ultrasound-guided attenuation parameter for identifying metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease, formerly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), as well as comparisons of different ultrasound attenuation imaging modes for assessing hepatic steatosis. This trend toward quantification is essential for objective disease monitoring and longitudinal assessment [5–8]. Concurrently, CEUS, particularly its application in areas such as interventional oncology, remained an area of intense investigation. Articles addressed the value of CEUS in the detection and characterization of liver lesions, and notably, studies contrasting its efficacy with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for challenging diagnoses further reinforce ultrasound’s growing stature as a competitive primary imaging modality [9,10].

The strength of Ultrasonography is rooted in the expertise of our international Editorial Board and the global diversity of our contributors. We extend our sincere gratitude to our dedicated reviewers, whose rigorous and timely peer-review process serves as the backbone of the journal’s academic integrity. Looking ahead to 2026, we will maintain a proactive editorial strategy, with a continued focus on commissioning structured reviews and expert consensus statements on high-impact topics to provide clear and authoritative guidance to the clinical community. We will also preserve editorial agility to embrace emerging and potentially transformative areas, such as the evolving role of generative AI and advanced point-of-care ultrasound protocols. My heartfelt thanks are extended to our authors, reviewers, and readers; your sustained commitment fuels the journal’s mission, and I am confident that, together, we will continue to strengthen Ultrasonography’s role as a leading global voice in the science and practice of medical ultrasound.