Preface to Grand Rounds Column

Dear colleagues,

We are delighted to announce the inauguration of a new column at Journal of Thoracic Disease (JTD), the Grand Rounds (GR). The GR is designed to become one of the most featured columns in our journal. Currently, GR articles at JTD replay the sessions where a typically intractable case was discussed among a panel of physicians, radiologists, pathologists, thoracic surgeons, oncologists and other healthcare professionals. For each GR session, there are two or more participating parties, including China State Key Lab of Respiratory Disease/Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease (SKLRD-GIRD) and at least one of world-reputed institutions, such as the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health (FIRH) of McMaster University in the first article of this column. As per a mutually agreed protocol of agenda, these parties discussed in live conversations through an internet-based camera. Each GR article represents the reproduction of such sessions thanks to the contribution from authors and acknowledged persons in post-session review of all audio and video records, confirmation of true intentions, medical writing, and coordination about proof-reading across many panelists. There are two categories of articles published in Grand Rounds Column:

(I) Articles on Grand Round session (Type I article):

Type I articles provide informative reproduction of case presentation, evaluation of images and biochemical studies, and brainstorming by experts from participating sides until a diagnosis is determined and/or recommendations are decided on the day of grand round. This type of article seeks to genuinely portrait the whole process of discussion on the patient’s condition, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and decision-making for treatment strategy, so as to enlighten and guide clinical practice for readers. The structure for Type I articles principally employs a fixed format that is intended to thoroughly document all points of view expressed during the grand round, including but not limited to subheadings as follows:

• Case presentation;
• Why is a grand round discussion warranted for this patient?
• Images and pathological discussion;
• Differential diagnosis;
• Discussion about the management;
• Final summarization (wrap-up).

(II) Article on follow-up after a published GR session (Type II article):

Type II articles focus on the follow-up of a specified patient mentioned in a published GR session. These articles provide a recent update on the patient condition, particularly, the outcomes of treatment proposed in the grand round which account for short-term (<6 months), midterm (6 to 12 months) and long-term (>12 months) efficacy.

Specific requirements on Type II article are:

• A Type II article is considered for publication only if the authors have published a Type I article related to that patient at JTD;
• Detailed information about the follow-up and outcome evaluation should cover a sufficiently longer duration of at least one year, to help readers understand the current situation of the specified patient and how it intersects with the treatment strategy generated in the grand round;
• Advices for the structure of Type II article:
• A brief review of the previous Type I article;
• Report whether and how the treatment strategy was implemented afterwards;
• Outcomes, including short-term, midterm and long-term;
• Lessons learned and the clinical implications;
• Type II article is not designed as a case report. We encourage authors refer to formats of correspondence.

We welcome and encourage submission of Type II articles to JTD, as this could offer integrity and consistency of a case study, therefore adding to the educational significance of our Column. It is important to note that, GR article represents our arduous effort to promote JTD as the official publication of SKLRD-GIRD, and to appreciate the China-foreign consultation in respiratory medicine via cyber-technology. Given so many participants and at least two parties involved in GR articles, it would be constructive to assign one or more coordinating authors who would work closely with the journal and communicate keenly with all participants involved, for the purpose of editing issues and academic endorsement. As with a novel piece, we are happy to have any reader comments to make this column more brilliant. Understandably, policies related to this column can be tentative at this moment, and would be subject to change if needed in the future. Nothing is cast in stone.

Together we can make JTD greater.