GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS

Manuscripts are accepted for publication on the conditionthat they are submitted solely to this journal, that thematerial is original, and that it has not been previouslypublished. The Journal will accept articles concernedwith otology, neurotology, audiology, rhinology, allergy,laryngology, speech sciences, bronchoesophagology,head and neck surgery, facial plastic and reconstructivesurgery, maxillofacial surgery, and pediatric otolaryngology.

American Journal of Otolaryngology uses a Web-basedonline manuscript submission and review system. Pleasevisit http://ees.elsevier.com/yajot to submit your manuscriptelectronically. The Web-site guides authors stepwisethrough the creation and uploading of the variousfiles. Note that original source files, not PDF files, arerequired. Authors are requested to submit the followingitems: a cover letter (save as a separate file for upload),manuscript (including title page, abstract, manuscripttext, references, and tables/figures and legends), tables,and figures. In an accompanying letter, authors should state that the manuscript is original, and it, or any part of it, has not been and will not be submitted elsewhere for publication; each author has contributed to, read, and approved the manuscript; and none of the authors has any conflict of interest, financial or otherwise. In addition,if the study involves patients, any IRB ApprovalLetter/Number or similar letter from the appropriateinstitution should be included.

All correspondence, including the Editor's decision andrequest for revisions, will be by e-mail.

Authors who are unable to provide an electronic versionor who have other circumstances that prevent onlinesubmission must contact the Editorial Office prior to submissionto discuss alternate options. The Publisher andEditor regret that they are not able to consider submissionsthat do not follow these procedures.Please refrain from using end notes as references or automaticlist numbering because these features are lost in conversion:simply type the reference number in parenthesesin the text and type the reference list. Formatting, such asGreek letters, italics, super- and subscripts, may be used:the coding scheme for such elements must be consistentthroughout.American Journal of Otolaryngology uses the process ofsending PDF proofs to author. When the proof is readyfor viewing, the corresponding author will receive ane-mail notification with a password and a link to theproof. For convenience, these proofs will have numberedlines to simplify the process of listing any corrections.Authors who wish to send their corrections by e-mailneed only hit Reply . Sending corrected hard copy proofsthrough the mail is also acceptable. If an e-mail addressis not supplied, the proofs will be sent by regular mail.

A transmittal letter signed by all authors should accompanythe manuscript submission via the online system (http://ees.elsevier.com/yajot). In compliance with theCopyright Revision Act of 1976, this letter must containone of the following two statements:

1. Copyright Transfer. "In consideration of (the)American Journal of Otolaryngology's reviewingand editing my submission, "manuscript title," theauthor(s) undersigned transfers, assigns, and otherwiseconveys all copyright ownership to ElsevierInc. in the event that such work is published in theAmerican Journal of Otolaryngology.
2. Federal Employment. "I was an employee of theUnited States Federal Government when this work,"manuscript title," was investigated and preparedfor publication: therefore, it is not protected by theCopyright Act and there is no copyright of whichthe ownership can be transferred."

Published manuscripts become the property of the Publisher,Elsevier Inc., and may not be published elsewherewithout written permission of Elsevier Inc. and the author.

Informed consent statements must also accompany manuscriptsreporting the results of experimental investigationof human subjects and should state that informed consentwas obtained for the subjects after the nature of theexperimental procedures was explained.

In order to ensure ethical research and patient care, theAmerican Journal of Otolaryngology requires an IRB numberor similar for of institution review prior to editorialreview of submitted manuscript.

MANUSCRIPT CATEGORIES

Current Reviews: Clinically applicable practice-orientedreviews of topics of contemporary interest and importancewill be considered for publication. Areas of controversyshould be acknowledged, and conclusions, recommendations,or generalizations should be adequately supportedby the information presented.

Grand Rounds: Widely used as a teaching format in medicalschools around the world, this section is ideal fordiscussing controversial issues surrounding difficult orchallenging clinical problems. Submissions may addressa diagnostic dilemma or therapeutic alternatives. In everycase, "Grand Rounds" should reflect actual discussion.Some editing for clarity and brevity is appropriate.No abstracts are necessary.

Original Contributions: Submissions should present researchthat is pertinent to the field and focus on how thefindings can be applied to the practice of otolaryngology.Original contributions should include a structured abstractof no more than 250 words, which contains thefollowing information: (1) Purpose: Why was this studydone? (2) Materials and Methods: What was the source ofthe data generated? How was it obtained? (3) Results:Findings should be objectively reported and statistical significanceindicated (if appropriate). (4) Conclusions: Abbreviationsand references should not appear in the abstract.

Clinical Radiology: The purpose of this section is to provide astructure that facilitates the reader's comprehension of therelationship between the patient's findings and the ultimatepathologic diagnosis. Manuscripts should be submittedwith high-quality illustrations radiographs or photographsof stained tissue preparation for analysis that demonstratean interesting or important observation.

Pediatric Otolaryngology: Principles and Practice: Submissionsfor this open-format section may include: (1) presentationof interesting or difficult cases that demonstrate basic conceptsof the field; (2) critique of recent articles in the literature;(3) questions regarding case management problems;(4) topics from disciplines interrelated with pediatric otolaryngology,such as (5) hypothetical problems presentedfor panel discussion; and/or (6) vignettes regarding the livesof those who have shaped the history of pediatric otolaryngology.

Case Reports: These submissions should be case reports ofunusual merit that report new information. Manuscriptsmust be brief, with no more than four illustrations.

Letters to the Editor: Letters are published at the Editor'sdiscretion. The Letter to the Editor should be typed doublespacedwith ample margins, and should be accompanied bya transmittal letter containing the copyright transfer orstatement of federal employment.

MANUSCRIPT FORMAT AND STYLE

All components of the manuscript should be typed doublespaced.Do not justify right margins. Separate pages shouldbe used for the title page, abstract, text, acknowledgments,references, individual tables and figure legends. All pagesshould be numbered consecutively beginning with thetitle page, and the author's last name should appear oneach page.

On the title page, the title should be specific and clear andshould not exceed 75 characters. Include each author'sname, highest academic degree earned, and institutionalaffiliation, as well as the mailing address and telephonenumber of the corresponding author and e-mail address.Identify the meeting at which the paper was presentedprior to publication, if any, and grantor(s) of financial supportobtained by the authors for the research, if any.

Abbreviations should not be used in the title. Avoid uncommonabbreviations in the text; when they must be used,spell terms out in full at first appearance, followed by theabbreviation in parentheses. All measurements should bein SI (metric) units; units customarily used in the UnitedStates may be given parenthetically. Audiograms shoulduse the American Speech and Hearing Association symbolsand be plotted according to ISO standards. Use genericnames for drugs and nonproprietary descriptions of productsand equipment.

TABLES AND ILLUSTRATIONS

Tables should be typed double-spaced on separate pagesand numbered. Indicate their placement in the text inconsecutive numeric order.

Illustrations should be arranged in order of citation in thetext and numbered consecutively. Code letters, symbols,arrows, and labeling should be done professionally inblack (or white on dark areas). Spelling and abbreviationsshould correspond to those used in the text. Consistencyin style and size of labels is desirable for uniformity. Onlarge illustrations, letters, arrows, etc, must be large enoughto be legible when reduced to journal size. Label eachillustration on the back with its figure number, the firstauthor's name, and an arrow drawn to indicate the top.Color illustrations cannot be reproduced as such unless thecost is subsidized by the author. Such photographs oftencontain illustrative value even when printed in black andwhite. Legends for the illustrations should be limited to 40words each and typed double-spaced, starting on a newpage. Magnifications of photomicrographs should be givenand stains used on preparations identified.

Borrowed material (previously published illustrations,tables, or quotations) must be fully identified as to authorand source. If text material totaling 200 words or more isborrowed verbatim, or if illustrations or tables are borrowed,written permission must be obtained from both theprevious publisher and the author and forwarded withthe manuscript.

Letters of consent for publication must accompany patientphotographs in which identification is possible. Parentalconsent or consent of a legal guardian must be obtained topermit publication of a photograph of a minor.

REFERENCES

References should be arranged in order of citation in thetext and numbered consecutively. All references must becited in the text. References should not appear in the structuredabstract. Please indicate if source is a complete article,abstract, or editorial; give inclusive page numbers forcomplete articles. Cite three complete names before using"et al."

Examples of References

Journal Article: One to Three Authors
[1] Tsuzuki T, Fukuda H, Fujioka T. Response of the human larynx to silicone. Am J Otolaryngol 1991;12:288-91.

Journal Article: More Than Three Authors
[2] Cheng DS, Campbell BH, Clowry LJ, et al. DNA content in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Am J Otolaryngol 1990;11:393-7.

Journal Article in Press
[3] Weber PC, Johnson JT, Myers EN. The impact of bilateral neck dissection on supraglottic laryngectomy. Arch Otolaryngol [in press].

Complete Book
[4] Paparella MM, Shumrick DA, Gluckman JL, et al, editors. Otolaryngology. 3rd ed.Philadelphia (PA): Saunders; 1991.

Chapter of Book
[5] Rapp R. Dental and gingival disorders. In: Bluestone CD, Stool SE, editors. Pediatric Otolaryngology, vol 2. 2nd ed. Philadelphia (PA): Saunders; 1990. p. 867-88.

Journal Article in a Supplement
[6] Kennedy TL. Cystic hygromalymphangioma: A rare and still unclear entity. Laryngoscope 1989;99 (suppl 49):1-10.

Abstract
[7] Lazar RH, Younis RT, Bassila MN. Bronchiogenic cysts: A cause of stridor in the neonate. Am J Otolaryngol 1991;12:117 [abstr].

Editorial
[8] Piantadosi S. Hazards of small clinical trials. J Clin Oncol 1990;8:1-3 [editorial].

PRODUCTION

Manuscripts and letters submitted will be edited beforepublication. The corresponding author will be sent proofsof the typeset copy showing the changes, if any. The authorsare responsible for the integrity of the published work,including all editorial alterations accepted by the correspondingauthor.

Reprint order forms will be sent to the correspondingauthor upon receipt of the manuscript at the publisher.Reprints are shipped 6 to 8 weeks after publication.

June 2010