Editorial

Welcome to the first edition of Skull Base Reports. This is a companion journal to Skull Base: An Interdisciplinary Approach, and like its sister publication it brings together a host of multi-disciplinary perspectives from surgeons specializing in surgical procedures of the skull base. The specific focus of Skull Base Reports is to document and discuss the symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment of individual clinical cases and procedures. The hope is that, over time, Skull Base Reports will grow into an extensive collection or library of case reports that will offer the practicing skull base surgeon an invaluable database of surgical cases for reference and comparison.

The decision to establish this journal was taken at the end of last year. At that time the journal had already grown from 4 to 6 issues per year, and in spite of this the overwhelming number of manuscript submissions meant that print publication times continued to be too long (articles continued to be published online within 8 weeks of acceptance). It is essential that the results of mainline skull base research, reviews, technical advances, and major series are not delayed a moment longer than necessary. A new initiative was essential to provide an additional outlet for the increased volume of research and clinical results—Skull Base Reports. We hope that you agree this is a healthy sign for our specialty. All print subscribers to the main journal will thus receive printed copies of Skull Base Reports, which they can add to their personal libraries.

In keeping with the high editorial standards of Skull Base: An Interdisciplinary Approach, the cases published in Skull Base Reports will have undergone strict peer-review and editorial selection. The aim is to include not only the most common surgical procedures seen in the clinical environment, but also to cover the management of more unusual presentations and conditions affecting the skull base. In our opinion, the carefully selected, peer-reviewed reports presented here will contribute to the growing world literature for this specialty.

Another important feature of Skull Base Reports is the fact that all accepted articles will be published on an open-access basis. As funding paths have evolved and open-access publication requirements from funding agencies have increased, it seemed appropriate that this new initiative reflects the changing expectations of the times.

In establishing Skull Base Reports, we have been extremely fortunate to be able to recruit two new editors to join our team. Derek Lin and Rupert Obholzer both have a significant amount of skull base experience and have enormous energy and enthusiasm for the new journal. They have put together a team of reviewers, and aim to turn around your submissions as quickly as possible, consistent with accurate and constructive peer-review. A considerable amount of time, effort, and resources goes into the production of our journals in terms of peer-review and copy-editing. We know that you will support our new editors by contributing good quality and well-prepared manuscripts. In turn, they would welcome your help with peer-review. Clear instructions for the preparation of manuscripts can be found on our Web site at: www.thieme.com/sbreports.

Finally, a very small number of case reports will continue to be published in Skull Base: An Interdisciplinary Approach. They will be exceptional, index cases only where a more prominent place in the world literature is deemed essential. We hope that you enjoy and appreciate this addition to our literature.