Instruction to Authors

General Information

The editorial and publication process of the Turkish Journal of Surgical Oncology are shaped in accordance with the guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), Council of Science Editors (CSE), Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), European Association of Science Editors (EASE), and National Information Standards Organization (NISO). The journal is in conformity with the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

Turkish Journal of Surgical Oncology accepts the articles in the field of oncology and surgical oncology.

Articles that do not fall within the scope of the journal are directly rejected. For detailed information on the subject, you can visit the link.

Additionally, you can check our website's 'Abstracting and Indexing' section to see which databases the journal is indexed in.

Article Submission

Manuscripts can be submitted online through https://jag.journalagent.com/turkjsurgoncol/. First time users will have to Create new account at this link. Creating a new account is free but mandatory. Registered authors can keep track of their articles after logging into the site using their username and password.

The journal does not charge for submission and processing of the manuscripts. If you experience any problems, please contact the editorial office by e-mail at info@turkjso.com

The submitted manuscripts that do not comply with the Submission Checklist items and that are not as per the “Instructions to Authors” would be returned to the authors for technical correction, before they undergo editorial/ peer-review.

Turkish Journal of Surgical Oncology manuscripts can be also submitted without being formatted into journal style. Manuscripts will need to be formatted for revision, after acceptance. Follow the below guide to ensure your submission will be within page limits.

Use of Large Language Models and Generative AI Tools

AI tools cannot meet the requirements for authorship as they cannot take responsibility for the submitted work. As non-legal entities, they cannot assert the presence or absence of conflicts of interest nor manage copyright and license agreements. Authors who use AI tools in the writing of a manuscript, production of images or graphical elements of the paper, or in the collection and analysis of data, must be transparent how the AI tool was used and which tool was used. Authors are fully responsible for the content of their manuscript, even those parts produced by an AI tool, and are thus liable for any breach of publication ethics.” COPE Position Statement on Authorship and AI tools. Detailed information about the statement can be accessed at https://publicationethics.org/cope-position-statements/ai-author

After reviewing the COPE statement, the editors of the Turkish Journal of Surgical Oncology have decided that papers should include a statement in a section called “Declaration Regarding the Use of AI and AI-Assisted Technologies” to let readers know if AI or AI-assisted tools were used in the writing process. It's important to remember that all authors are responsible for the content of their work. This declaration does not apply to the use of basic tools for checking grammar, spelling, or references (such as Mendeley, EndNote, Zotero, and others). If there is nothing to declare, there is no need to add a statement.

It is suggested that authors follow this format when preparing their statement:

During the preparation of this work, the author(s) utilized [NAME OF TOOL(S) USED] to [DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE TOOL(S) WERE UTILIZED AND HOW THE VALIDITY OF THE OUTPUTS WAS EVALUATED]. After carefully reviewing and editing the content as necessary, full responsibility for the publication's content is taken by the author(s). This incorporation of AI tool usage primarily impacted [SPECIFY WHICH ASPECTS OF THE STUDY, ARTICLE CONTENTS, DATA, OR SUPPORTING FILES WERE AFFECTED/GENERATED].

Example:

During the preparation of this work, the author(s) utilized OpenAI's ChatGPT to generate summaries of research articles related to the topic. These summaries were evaluated by comparing them to manually written summaries by experts in the field. Upon confirming the accuracy and relevance of the generated summaries, they were integrated into the literature review section of the manuscript. After carefully reviewing and editing the content as necessary, full responsibility for the publication's content is taken by the author(s). This incorporation of AI tool usage primarily impacted the efficiency of literature review process and the comprehensiveness of the gathered research insights.

Article Type

Identification of article type is the first step of manuscript submission because article type dictates the guidelines that should be used (see below, Using Guidelines), including formatting and word limits of the manuscript. The main categories of article type are outlined below:

Original Article: Original contributions are manuscripts containing substantial novel research. These articles can include randomized controlled trials, observational (cohort, case-control or cross-sectional) studies, descriptive studies, diagnostic accuracy studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, nonrandomized behavioral and public health intervention trials, experimental animal trials, or any other clinical or experimental studies. Abstracts should not exceed 500 words and should be structured with the following subheadings: Objectives, Material and Methods, Results, and Conclusion. The main text should be structured with the following subheadings: Introduction, Material and Methods, Results, Discussion, Acknowledgments, References, Tables, and Figure Legends. The main text should not exceed 3000 words, excluding the abstract, references, tables, and figure legends. There should be a maximum of 50 references. All papers but cell studies require ethical approval.

Brief Reports: Brief reports are short and peer-reviewed articles including small case series, negative trials, the preliminary results and others that are not to be published as a full text paper. The main text should be less than 2000 words with a maximum 20 references and have no more than 3 display items (Tables or figures). Abstracts should not exceed 250 words and should be structured with the following subheadings: Objectives, Material and Methods, Results, and Conclusion. All papers require ethical approval.

Invited Review Article: Invited review articles are comprehensive analyses of specific topics in medicine, which are written upon invitation due to extensive experience and publications of authors on the review subjects. All invited review articles will also undergo peer review prior to acceptance. Review articles must not exceed 5000 words for the main text (excluding references, tables, and figure legends) and 500 words for the abstract. A review article can be signed by no more than 7 authors and can have no more than 100 references.

Case Report: The journal considers case reports that present rare conditions, novel diagnostic or therapeutic approaches, or clinically significant observations that contribute to medical knowledge. Case reports should provide clear clinical insight and include a concise discussion of the relevant literature. Manuscripts should be structured with the following subheadings: Introduction, Case Presentation, Discussion, and References. An abstract is required. The number of authors, references, figures, and tables should be kept to a minimum and should comply with general journal standards. Patient consent is mandatory for all case reports.

Clinical Image: For educational purposes, the journal publishes original, interesting, and high quality clinical images having a brief explanation (maximum 700 words excluding references but including figure legends) and of educational significance. The figure legend should contain no more than 100 words. It can be signed by no more than 5 authors and can have no more than 10 references and 1 figure and/or table. Any information that might identify the patient or hospital, including the date, should be removed from the image. An abstract is not required with this type of manuscripts. The main text of clinical images should be structured with the following subheadings: Case, and References. All papers require the patient's consent.

Letter to the Editor: Letters in reference to a journal article must not exceed 700 words (excluding references). Letters not related to a journal article must also not exceed 500 words (excluding references). An abstract is not required with this type of manuscripts. A letter can be signed by no more than 4 authors and can have no more than 10 references and 1 figure and/or table. Authors might be asked for a reply to the letter. Replies must be submitted through submission system as well.

Other: Editorials, editorial comments, book reviews, and reports on publication and research ethics are requested by the Editorial Board.

Recommendations for Manuscripts:

Detailed Recommendations for the Article Sections

Title

• The title should possess attention-grabbing qualities while maintaining relevance to the subject matter. The primary purpose of the title is to facilitate the reader's understanding of the research topic and to capture their attention. It is crucial for the chosen phrasing to accurately encapsulate the applied research methodology while maintaining a direct correlation with the field of interest under investigation.

• The title should incorporate conceptual keywords representative of the subject matter and, where feasible, should be succinctly articulated. It is advisable to limit the title to a length not exceeding 50 characters, while avoiding the use of question marks and exclamation points within its content whenever possible.

Title Page

• The title page should include, following the title, the names of the authors along with their affiliations, highest academic degrees, and ORCID numbers. The name, address, and contact information of each respective author should be included. If the authors serve as editorial board members, such roles should be explicitly stated on this page.

Abstract

• The abstract should be in harmonious alignment with the title. It must provide a consistent structure without deviating from the topic specified in the title.

• Abstracts should be written for all types of articles, excluding letters. For research articles and study protocols, it is recommended that the abstract be structured. The structured abstract should encompass sections on Objectives, Material and Methods, Results, and Conclusion.

• The Objectives section should consist of a concise narrative spanning one or two sentences. This segment should elucidate the conditions prompting the research, articulate the aims of the study, and specify the aspects under observation.

• The Methods section should elucidate the procedural aspects of the research, providing a thorough description of the study design, methodologies employed, and the analytical approaches adopted. Essential details, including the composition and size of the sample group, variables, procedural intricacies, and implemented controls, should be meticulously incorporated.

• In the Results section, the scientific results derived during the research process are succinctly presented. This section should convey statistically significant data and information relevant to the topics addressed in the research. Ambiguous adjectives such as 'many,' 'most,' 'few,' or 'some' should be avoided when describing findings and data in the Results and Conclusion sections. Data should be conveyed with precision, presented in numerical values without reliance on vague qualifiers.

• In the Conclusion section, the outcomes of the research should be conveyed impartially, irrespective of their positive or negative significance. The author is expected to interpret the results in this section, providing insights into the implications of the research. Furthermore, the contribution of the study to the field of medical science should be explicitly stated.

Clinical Trials

Prospective studies submitted to the journal are required to obtain a clinical trial number from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ and include it below the article's abstract. For further details, please click here.

Keywords

• When selecting keywords, it is essential to stay within the bounds of the subject matter and scope, avoiding divergence.

• It is recommended that the choice of keywords includes terms that capture the attention of the targeted readership and align with the words present in the title and throughout the content of the article.

• Ideally, the number of keywords should range from 3 to 6. While fewer keywords are at the discretion of the author, exceeding this range is not recommended.

• Keywords should be listed in full, without abbreviations. English keywords should align with the 'Medical Subject Headings' (MESH) available at nlm.nih.gov.

Tables, Figures and Images

• Elements deemed necessary should be presented in tables and figures with a simplicity that facilitates comprehension. Redundancy of the same information should be avoided.

• The presentation of statistical information should be clear and free from unnecessary complexity. P values, confidence intervals, and other statistical measures should be appropriately rounded and expressed in accordance with the specified guidelines.

• Table formats should not strain the eyes; they should be presented in a simple manner that allows the reader to easily draw inferences.

References

Both in-text citations and the references must be prepared according to the AMA Manual of style.

While citing publications, preference should be given to the latest, most up-to-date publications. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of references If an ahead-of-print publication is cited, the DOI number should be provided. Journal titles should be abbreviated in accordance with the journal abbreviations in Index Medicus/MEDLINE/PubMed. When there are six or fewer authors, all authors should be listed. If there are seven or more authors, the first three authors should be listed followed by “et al.” In the main text of the manuscript, references should be cited in superscript after punctuation. The reference styles for different types of publications are presented in the following examples.

Journal Article: Economopoulos KJ Brockmeier SF. Rotator cuff tears in overhead athletes. Clin Sports Med. 2012;31:675-92.

Book Section: Fikremariam D, Serafini M. Multidisciplinary approach to pain management. In: Vadivelu N, Urman RD, Hines RL, eds. Essentials of Pain Management. New York, NY: Springer New York; 2011:17-28.

Books with a Single Author: Patterson JW. Weedon’s Skin Pahology. 4th ed. Churchill Livingstone; 2016.

Editor(s) as Author: Etzel RA, Balk SJ, eds. Pediatric Environmental Health. American Academy of Pediatrics; 2011.

Conference Proceedings: Morales M, Zhou X. Health practices of immigrant women: indigenous knowledge in an urban environment. Paper presented at: 78th Association for Information Science and Technology Annual Meeting; November 6-10; 2015; St Louis, MO. Accessed March 15, 2016.

https://www.asist.org/files/meetings/am15/proceedings/openpage15.html

Thesis: Maiti N. Association Between Behaviours, Health Charactetistics and Injuries Among Adolescents in the United States. Dissertation. Palo Alto University; 2010.

Online Journal Articles: Tamburini S, Shen N, Chih Wu H, Clemente KC. The microbiome in early life: implications for health outcometes. Nat Med. Published online July 7, 2016. doi:10.1038/nm4142

Epub Ahead of Print Articles: Websites: International Society for Infectious Diseases. ProMed-mail. Accessed February 10, 2016. http://www.promedmail.org

Ethical Policy

For studies involving human or animal participants, the authors should indicate whether the procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human and animal experimentation (institutional or regional) and with the Helsinki Declaration). Application or approvasl number/year of the study should also be provided. The editorial board are entitled to question authors regarding ethical aspects when concerns are raised or further clarifications are necessary and will act in accordance with COPE guidelines if an ethical misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, citation manipulation, and data falsification/fabrication) is suspected.

It is the authors’ responsibility to carefully protect the patients’ anonymity and to verify that any experimental investigation with human subjects reported in the submission was performed with informed consent and following all the guidelines for experimental investigation with human subjects required by the institution(s) with which all the authors are affiliated with. For photographs that may reveal the identity of the patients, signed releases of the patient or of his/her legal representative should be enclosed.

Prospective human studies require both an ethics committee approval and informed consent by participants. Retrospective studies require an ethics committee approval with waiver of informed consent. Authors may be required to document such approval.

All submissions are screened by a similarity detection software (iThenticate by CrossCheck), and those with an overall similarity index of greater than 20%, or duplication rate at or higher than 5% with a single source are returned back to authors without further evaluation along with the similarity report.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

All sources of financial support should be disclosed. All authors should disclose if a meaningful conflict of interest exists in the process of forming their study. Any financial grants or other support received for a submitted study from individuals or institutions should be disclosed to the Editorial Board of the Turkish Journal of Surgical Oncology. The ICMJE Potential Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form should be filled in and submitted by all contributing authors to disclose a potential conflict of interest. The journal's Editorial Board determines cases of a potential conflict of interest of the editors, authors, or reviewers within the scope of COPE and ICMJE guidelines.

Conditions that provide financial or personal benefit bring about a conflict of interest. The reliability of the scientific process and the published articles is directly related to the objective consideration of conflicts of interest during the planning, implementation, writing, evaluation, editing, and publication of scientific studies.

Financial relations are the most easily identified conflicts of interest, and it is inevitable that they will undermine the credibility of the journal, the authors, and the science. These conflicts can be caused by individual relations, academic competition, or intellectual approaches. The authors should refrain as much as possible from making agreements with sponsors in the opinion of gaining profit or any other advantage that restrict their ability to access all data of the study or analyze, interpret, prepare, and publish their articles. Editors should refrain from bringing together those who may have any relationship between them during the evaluation of the studies.

Authors should inform the editorial board concerning potential conflicts of interest to ensure that their articles will be evaluated within the framework of ethical principles through an independent assessment process. The declaration of the conflict of interest between authors, institutions, acknowledgement of any financial or material support, aid is mandatory for authors submitting a manuscript, and the statement should appear at the end of the manuscript.

Reviewers must disclose to editors any relationships or activities that may introduce bias in their evaluation of a manuscript. Additionally, reviewers are obligated to report any potential conflicts of interest between themselves and the authors or institutions involved.

The editors, who make the final decision about the articles, should not have any personal, professional, or financial ties with any of the issues they are going to decide. Engaging in multiple editorial boards with similar aims and scope, potentially competing for the same content, can create conflicts of interest. Therefore, editors and editorial staff are expected to adhere to COPE's recommendation by regularly disclosing relationships or activities relevant to editorial decisions. This disclosure should encompass additional commitments and roles, such as involvement in journals, books, and societies producing publications.

If one of the editors is an author in any manuscript, the editor is excluded from the manuscript evaluation process or a guest editor is assigned instead. In order to prevent any conflict of interest, the article evaluation process is carried out as double-blinded. Because of the double-blinded evaluation process, except for the Editor-in-Chief, none of the editorial board members, international advisory board members, or reviewers is informed about the authors of the manuscript or institutions of the authors.

The journal's publication team works devotedly to ensure that the evaluation process is conducted impartially, considering all these situations.

Appeals and Complaints

Turkish Journal of Surgical Oncology treats appeals, complaints, and allegations of misconduct with utmost seriousness, regardless of the individuals' affiliation or the publication status. Appeal and complaint cases are handled within the scope of COPE guidelines by the Editorial Board of the journal.

The editor-in-chief will review appeals to editorial decisions, seeking additional input from the editorial board or external reviewers if the appeal is deemed valid.

If misconduct is reported, and either proven or strongly suspected, the journal is obligated to notify the relevant individual's institution, which may then initiate its own investigation.

If an individual has a complaint about an editorial decision, the editorial process, or actions by journal members, they should first contact the editor-in-chief. If the response is unsatisfactory or if the complaint is against the editor-in-chief, the matter should be raised with the publisher, who will investigate following COPE guidelines.

In instances involving allegations against a member of the publisher’s team, senior management will be apprised to oversee and supervise the investigation. In cases of potential conflicts of interest, independent individuals may lead the investigation, and when deemed necessary, the journal may contact other institutions to seek legal advice.

After Acceptance

Once the manuscript is accepted to be published in the Turkish Journal of Surgical Oncology, it receives a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) number. The accepted manuscripts are reviewed for publication in accordance with the journal's writing guidelines. This includes checking for adherence to writing rules, identifying missing sections within the text, reviewing the completeness and adequacy of materials used in the article, and verifying the accuracy and compliance of references through PubMed and CrossRef. Professional English editing services at the level of native English speakers will be provided for all articles planned to be published in the journal, with the aim of increasing scientific quality. The authors of the accepted manuscripts should be in consent that the editor-in-chief and associate editors could make corrections without changing the main text of the paper. A PDF proof of the accepted manuscript is sent to the corresponding author, and their publication approval is requested within 2 days of their receipt of the proof. Once the publication process of a manuscript is completed, it is published online on the journal’s webpage as an ahead-of-print publication before it is included in its scheduled issue.