Head & Neck is an international multidisciplinary publication of original contributions concerning the diagnosis and management of diseases of the head and neck. This area involves the overlapping interests and expertise of several surgical and medical specialties including general surgery neurosurgery otolaryngology plastic surgery oral surgery dermatology ophthalmology pathology radiotherapy medical oncology and the corresponding basic sciences. Head & Neck publishes original contributions on clinical and research topics. Each manuscript is submitted to peer review by at least two experts in the field. Comprehensive reviews of topics particularly in fields subject to rapid change in knowledge will be included at the discretion of the Editor and on the recommendation of reviewers. Technical notes descriptions of new technologies single case reports of unusual interest and brief preliminary communications are accepted after proper peer review. Editorials and Letters to the Editor are also considered for publication. Head & Neck also publishes regular series: Controversies Basic Science Reviews Anatomic Correlates Abstracts and Book Reviews . Book Reviews are solicited by the editor and publishers should send review books to Randal S. Weber MD Editor. Visual materials will also be accepted for review. Head & Neck adheres to the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals under the agreement of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors ( JAMA 1993;269:2282-2286). Manuscripts are accepted for consideration if they have not appeared elsewhere in any but abstract form and are not currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. This policy does not preclude consideration of a manuscript that has been rejected by another journal or of a complete report that follows publication of the preliminary report or abstract. It is requested that the author submit a full statement to the Editor about previous reports that may be regarded as prior or duplicate publication for the same or similar work. Multiple-part publications are discouraged. Secondary publications in another language will be considered individually. Preliminary release of data usually to public media of scientific information described in a paper may be acceptable but should be discussed with the Editor.