Journal profile · Pathology
VIRCHOWS ARCHIV
ISSN 0945-6317 · eISSN 1432-2307 · Springer Berlin Heidelberg · GERMANY · Monthly · Founded 1847
VIRCHOWS ARCHIV: CAS Zone 2 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.02; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,790; median 68 days to acceptance (106 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: easy; 363 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
VIRCHOWS ARCHIV is published by Springer Berlin Heidelberg and is in Zone 2 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Biomedical and Chemical Research, Sarcoma Diagnosis and Treatment and Medical History and Research, together about 23.2% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The Official Journal of the European Society of Pathology Mission statement: To advance the scientific basis of human pathology by the publication (encouragement and dissemination) of high quality research (including molecular and translational studies) and thereby contribute to patient care. Manuscripts of original studies reinforcing the evidence base of modern diagnostic pathology, using immunocytochemical, molecular and ultrastructural techniques, will be welcomed. In addition, papers on critical evaluation of diagnostic criteria but also broadsheets and guidelines with a solid evidence base will be considered. Consideration will also be given to reports of work in other fields relevant to the understanding of human pathology as well as manuscripts on the application of new methods and techniques in pathology. Submission of purely experimental articles is discouraged but manuscripts on experimental work applicable to diagnostic pathology are welcomed. Biomarker studies are welcomed but need to abide by strict rules (e.g. REMARK) of adequate sample size and relevant marker choice. Single marker studies on limited patient series without validated application will as a rule not be considered. Case reports will only be considered when they provide substantial new information with an impact on understanding disease or diagnostic practice.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Pathology
Editor-in-chief Abbas AgaimyPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 2%); most named United States 27, Germany 16, Italy 16, Switzerland 6, United Kingdom 5 (108 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Biomedical and Chemical ResearchMedicine9.4%
- Sarcoma Diagnosis and TreatmentMedicine8%
- Medical History and ResearchArts and Humanities5.8%
- Medical and Health Sciences ResearchMedicine5.4%
- Cancer and Skin LesionsMedicine5.1%
- Neuroendocrine Tumor Research AdvancesMedicine4.3%
- Lymphoma Diagnosis and TreatmentMedicine4.2%
- Salivary Gland Tumors Diagnosis and TreatmentMedicine4.2%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Pathology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Pathology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Pathology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
MEDLINEEmbaseCASCAB AbstractsCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS, Semantic Scholar
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 3.02LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3.3Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 6.4LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.22LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.51LetPub ·
- h-index
- 90LetPub ·
- h-index
- 163OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 10,222OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 2.53OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 6.7%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 45.85%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 318LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 1,600,000Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 22,719 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 348 | 159 | 114 |
| 2025 | 363 | 187 | 858 |
| 2024 | 288 | 145 | 1,551 |
| 2023 | 238 | 126 | 2,289 |
| 2022 | 236 | 102 | 3,179 |
| 2021 | 262 | 122 | 4,962 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
68 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 43 days – 104 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 13 days (106 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 83 days
- Sample
- 106 articles with submission and acceptance dates (785 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- 4–8 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 7 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,790 / EUR 3,690 / GBP 2,990 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 3,500 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
Article types accepted4, with length limits
- brief reportar scientific or diagnostic interest. A brief report will have a maximum of 1500 words, not counting abstract, legends or references. A maximum ofmain text ≤ 1,500 words
- commentarye invited by the Editors to write this. Commentaries will have a maximum of 1000 words and a maximum of 10 references. An abstract should not be pmain text ≤ 1,000 words
- editorialtorials are by invitation only. Invited Editorials will not contain more than 1000 words, 10 references, and 1 figure or table. An abstract should nmain text ≤ 1,000 words
- review articlentirely the prerogative of the Editors. Review articles as a rule will not contain more than 4500 words (excluding abstract, legends and references). Figures an…main text ≤ 4,500 words
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Plagiarism
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
A mandatory authorship contribution statement must be submitted declaring each author's authorship. Model summary
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability
Data availability statements are encouraged, describing where data supporting results can be found, including hyperlinks to publicly archived datasets, availability on request, or no data availability. Model summary
The journal encourages authors to provide a statement of Data availability in their article. Data availability statements should include information on where data supporting the results reported in the article can be found, including, where applicable, hyperlinks to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Data availability statements can also indicate whether data are av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
The journal follows COPE guidelines on publication ethics and misconduct. Model summary
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Permission from copyright owners is required for previously published figures, tables, or text passages, with evidence included at submission. Model summary
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Virchows Archiv, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review
Authors may suggest suitable reviewers and/or request exclusion of certain individuals at submission; suggested reviewers should be independent, and the journal may not use the suggestions. Model summary
Authors are welcome to suggest suitable reviewers and/or request the exclusion of certain individuals when they submit their manuscripts.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Plagiarism
The journal may use software to screen for plagiarism; authors must avoid plagiarism and secure permissions for copyrighted material. Model summary
Important note: the journal may use software to screen for plagiarism.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer Berlin Heidelberg
- Country or region
- GERMANY
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1847
- ISSN
- 0945-6317
- Electronic ISSN
- 1432-2307
- Society / sponsor
- European Society of Pathology
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 489, Issue 2 (August 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about VIRCHOWS ARCHIV
What CAS zone is VIRCHOWS ARCHIV in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, VIRCHOWS ARCHIV is in Zone 2 of Medicine, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Pathology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Medicine. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of VIRCHOWS ARCHIV?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.02; CiteScore 6.4, h-index 163.
How long does peer review take at VIRCHOWS ARCHIV?
Based on the dates recorded on 106 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 68 days (interquartile range 43–104 days); authors report an average review time of 4–8 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of VIRCHOWS ARCHIV?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Manuscript length: ≤ 3,500 words; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of VIRCHOWS ARCHIV based?
Of the 108 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 2%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (27), Germany (16) and Italy (16). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index VIRCHOWS ARCHIV?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, VIRCHOWS ARCHIV is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists MEDLINE, Embase, CAS, CAB Abstracts and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is VIRCHOWS ARCHIV open access, and what is the APC?
VIRCHOWS ARCHIV is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,790.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .