The above-mentioned paper, which was published in the August 2008 issue of European Radiology, contained two paragraphs of text that had been directly copied without acknowledgement from an excellent paper published in Lung Cancer by Anna K. Nowak [Nowak AK (2005) CT, RECIST, and malignant pleural mesothelioma. Lung Cancer Jul;49 Suppl 1:S37–40].

When this issue came to light, a full review of the process was made by the Editor-in-Chief and a Senior Editor of European Radiology. Following discussions with all the authors and the Head of the Institution from which the paper emanated, it transpired that this had resulted from an oversight by a junior co-author that should have been checked by the senior authors. The junior author failed to include the reference to the original paper published in Lung Cancer. We have now received an abject apology to Prof. Nowak and the Editor-in-Chief of Lung Cancer.

We considered withdrawing the paper on the grounds of unacknowledged duplication. However, the duplicated material, which should have been acknowledged, is the definitive description of certain features of this oncological topic and has little bearing on the subsequent results. Thus, it was deemed that the article could stand, but that it should be linked to this erratum and apology. All the authors feel humbled by the experience, which is a salutary reminder to us all when signing an authorship declaration certificate.

This course of action has been discussed both with the original author, Prof. Nowak, and the Editor-in-Chief of Lung Cancer, both of whom also accept the apology with good grace.

Adrian K. Dixon

Editor-in-Chief

European Radiology