Overview Submission Instructions Recent Publications Frequently Asked Questions Research Topics

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JAMA Surgery

JAMA Surgery is a surgical journal in the JAMA Network that publishes research, opinion, and clinical review and education content, including article types such as Original Investigation, Review, Special Communication, Viewpoint, and Invited Commentary.

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Subject Surgery

Impact Factor 14.9

Quartile Q1

Open Access Type Hybrid

ISSN 2168-6254

eISSN 2168-6262

Invitation Only No

Cost Range Subscription access is available, and individual article purchase is listed at $45.00. Some articles are labeled open access.

Submission Instructions

JAMA Surgery accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.

Original Investigation

Cover Letter Cover letter should be included. Cover letter must include complete contact information for the corresponding author and disclose whether related papers from the same study have been published, posted, or submitted.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must be structured.

Manuscript Text must not exceed 3000 words. Manuscript must include the study type. Manuscript must include 3 Key Points, and the Key Points section should present Question, Findings, and Meaning in 75 to 100 words.

References References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance, cited in text with superscript Arabic numerals, not alphabetized, and list up to 6 authors or editors before using the first 3 followed by "et al."

Figures & Tables No more than 5 tables and/or figures in total are permitted. Tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file, and figures must not be included in the manuscript text and should be uploaded as separate files. Each table and figure must be numbered, given a descriptive title, and cited in the text.

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Systematic Review (Without Meta-Analysis)

Cover Letter A cover letter should be included. The cover letter must include complete contact information for the corresponding author.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. The abstract must not exceed 350 words. The abstract must be structured. The abstract must use the headings Importance, Objective, Evidence Review, Findings, and Conclusions and Relevance.

Manuscript The manuscript must not exceed 3000 words of text. The manuscript must use the subtitle "A Systematic Review" and include Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions sections. The manuscript must include Key Points of 75-100 words using the headings Question, Findings, and Meaning, include a table rating the quality of the studies or evidence, and report any use of AI tools in the Acknowledgment section or Methods section if part of the formal research design or methods.

References The manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance, cited in the text with superscript Arabic numerals, list up to 6 authors or editors before using the first 3 followed by "et al" for more than 6, and use PubMed journal abbreviations.

Figures & Tables The manuscript may include no more than 5 tables and/or figures in total. Figures must be submitted as separate files and not included in the manuscript text, and tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file. Each table or figure must be numbered in the order cited in the text, have a descriptive title, and be cited in the text.

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Narrative Review

Cover Letter Cover letter should be included. Cover letter must include complete contact information for the corresponding author.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 300 words. Abstract must be structured. Abstract headings must be Importance, Observations, and Conclusions and Relevance.

Manuscript Manuscript must be 2000-3500 words. Manuscript must use the subtitle "A Review" and include an Introduction of 150-250 words, an optional Methods section of 150-250 words, a Discussion/Observations section of 1000-1250 words, and Conclusions of 2-3 sentences. Key Points must not be included, and any use of artificial intelligence to create content or assist with writing or editing must be reported in the Acknowledgment section or Methods section.

References Manuscript must include 50-75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in the order of appearance, cited with superscript Arabic numerals, list up to 6 authors or editors before using "et al," and use PubMed journal name abbreviations.

Figures & Tables No more than 5 tables and/or figures may be included in total. Tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file, and figures must not be included in the manuscript text and should be submitted as separate files. Each table and figure must be numbered, given a descriptive title, and cited in the text.

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Clinical Trial

Cover Letter A cover letter should be included. The cover letter must include complete contact information for the corresponding author.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. The abstract must be structured. Trial registration information must be listed at the end of the abstract, including registry name, trial ID, and URL.

Manuscript The manuscript must not exceed 3000 words of text. The manuscript must include 3 Key Points and a copy of the original trial protocol including the complete statistical analysis plan and any amendments. The manuscript must include a Data Sharing Statement.

References The manuscript must include 50-75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in the order of appearance, cited with superscript Arabic numerals, and list up to 6 authors or editors before using "et al."

Figures & Tables The manuscript may include no more than a total of 5 tables and/or figures. Figures must not be included in the manuscript text and must be submitted as separate files, while tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file. Each table and figure must be numbered, given a descriptive title, and cited in the text.

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Meta-Analysis

Cover Letter A cover letter should be included. The cover letter must include complete contact information for the corresponding author and whether the authors have published, posted, or submitted any related papers from the same study.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. The abstract must not exceed 350 words. The abstract must be structured.

Manuscript The manuscript text must not exceed 3000 words. The title must include the phrase "A Meta-analysis" as a subtitle. Key Points are required before the abstract using the headings Question, Findings, and Meaning, and a Data Sharing Statement must be included.

References The manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in the order cited, use superscript Arabic numerals in the text, list all authors up to 6 and the first 3 followed by "et al" if more than 6, and use PubMed journal abbreviations with issue numbers in parentheses after the volume.

Figures & Tables The manuscript may include no more than 5 tables and/or figures in total. Figures must be submitted as separate files and not included in the manuscript text, while tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file. Each table and figure must be numbered, given a descriptive title, and cited in the text, and data must not be duplicated between tables and figures.

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Cohort Study

Cover Letter A cover letter should be included. The cover letter must include complete contact information for the corresponding author and disclose whether related papers from the same study have been published, posted, or submitted.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. The abstract must be structured.

Manuscript The manuscript must not exceed 3000 words of text. The manuscript must include Key Points and a Data Sharing Statement.

References The manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance, cited with superscript Arabic numerals, list up to 6 authors or editors before using "et al.," and use PubMed journal abbreviations with issue numbers in journal citations.

Figures & Tables The manuscript may include no more than 5 tables and/or figures in total. Tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file, and figures must not be embedded in the manuscript text and should be submitted as separate files for submission. Each table and figure must be numbered, titled, and cited in the text, and data must not be duplicated between tables and figures.

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Case-Control Study

Abstract A structured abstract is required. The abstract must be structured.

Manuscript The manuscript text must not exceed 3000 words. The manuscript must include Key Points and a Data Sharing Statement, and AI writing or editing assistance must be disclosed in the Acknowledgment section or Methods section if used as part of the formal research design or methods.

References The manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance, cited with superscript Arabic numerals, not alphabetized, list up to 6 authors or editors before using "et al.," and use PubMed journal abbreviations with journal issue numbers in parentheses after the volume.

Figures & Tables No more than 5 tables and/or figures in total may be included. Tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file, and figures must not be embedded in the manuscript text and should be submitted as separate files. Each table and figure must be numbered, cited in the text, and accompanied by a descriptive title, and data must not be duplicated between tables and figures.

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Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Structured abstract is required. Abstract must be structured.

Manuscript Manuscript text must not exceed 3000 words. Manuscript must include Key Points and a Data Sharing Statement.

References Manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance, cited with superscript Arabic numerals, use PubMed journal abbreviations, and list up to 6 authors or editors before using the first 3 followed by et al.

Figures & Tables Manuscript may include no more than 5 tables and/or figures in total. Figures must be submitted as separate files and not included in the manuscript text, while tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file. Each table and figure must be numbered, titled, and cited in the text, and data must not be duplicated between tables and figures.

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Randomized Clinical Trial

Cover Letter Cover letter should be included with the submission. Cover letter must include complete contact information for the corresponding author.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. The abstract must be structured. Trial registration information, including registry name, trial ID, and URL, must appear at the end of the abstract.

Manuscript Manuscript must not exceed 3000 words. Manuscript must use the subtitle "A Randomized Clinical Trial." Manuscript must include 3 Key Points, trial registration and ID, a Data Sharing Statement, and submission of the original trial protocol with complete statistical analysis plan and any amendments as supplemental files.

References Manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance, cited with superscript Arabic numerals, and list up to 6 authors or editors before using "et al."

Figures & Tables No more than a combined total of 5 tables and figures is permitted. Figures must not be included in the manuscript text and tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file. Each table and figure must be numbered, titled, and cited in the text.

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Research Letter

Abstract Abstract must not be included.

Manuscript Research Letter text must not exceed 800 words. Research Letter should generally be divided into Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion sections. Research Letter must not include Key Points, and supplementary material is allowed only for brief additional and absolutely necessary methods and not for additional results or discussion.

References Research Letter must not exceed 10 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance, cited with superscript Arabic numerals, not alphabetized, and list up to 6 authors or editors before using the first 3 followed by "et al.".

Figures & Tables Research Letter may include up to 2 small tables and/or figures. Figures must not be included in the manuscript text and must be submitted as separate files, while tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file. Each table and figure must be numbered, titled, cited in the text, and data must not be duplicated between figures and tables.

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Letter To The Editor

Abstract Abstract requirements are not specified.

Manuscript Letter to the Editor text must not exceed 400 words. Letter must include the full name, academic degrees, and a single institutional affiliation for each author and the email address for the corresponding author.

References Letter to the Editor must not exceed 5 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance, cited with superscript Arabic numerals, use PubMed journal abbreviations, and list up to 6 authors or the first 3 followed by "et al." if more than 6.

Figures & Tables Figures must be submitted as separate files and not included in the manuscript text.

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Case Series

Abstract A structured abstract is required. The abstract must be structured.

Manuscript The manuscript must not exceed 3000 words of text. The manuscript must include a title page, Key Points, a structured abstract, text, and references. The manuscript must include Key Points and a Data Sharing Statement, and any use of artificial intelligence to create or assist with writing or editing must be reported in the Acknowledgment or Methods section.

References The manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance, cited with superscript Arabic numerals, use PubMed journal abbreviations, and list up to 6 authors or editors before using the first 3 followed by “et al.”

Figures & Tables The manuscript may include no more than 5 tables and/or figures in total. Figures must be submitted as separate files rather than included in the manuscript text, while tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file. Each table and figure must be numbered, given a descriptive title, and cited in the text.

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Comparative Effectiveness Research

Cover Letter Cover letter should be included with the submission. Cover letter must include complete contact information for the corresponding author and disclose whether related papers from the same study have been published, posted, or submitted.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must be structured.

Manuscript Manuscript text must not exceed 3000 words. Manuscript must include a title page, Key Points, abstract, text, references, and, as appropriate, figure legends and tables. Manuscript must include Key Points in Question, Findings, and Meaning format and a Data Sharing Statement.

References Manuscript must include 50 to 75 references. References must follow AMA style. References must be numbered in order of appearance, cited as superscript Arabic numerals, not alphabetized, list up to 6 authors or editors before using "et al.," and use PubMed journal abbreviations with issue numbers included.

Figures & Tables Manuscript may include no more than 5 tables and/or figures in total. Figures must be submitted as separate files and not included in the manuscript text, while tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file. Each table and figure must be numbered, titled, cited in the text, and not duplicate data presented elsewhere.

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Diagnostic/Prognostic Study

Cover Letter Cover letter should be included. Cover letter must include complete contact information for the corresponding author.

Abstract A structured abstract is required. Abstract must be structured.

Manuscript Manuscript text must not exceed 3000 words. Manuscript must include a title page, abstract, text, references, and as appropriate figure legends and tables. Manuscript must include Key Points before the abstract in the format of Question, Findings, and Meaning and must include a Data Sharing Statement.

Figures & Tables Manuscript may include no more than a total of 5 tables and/or figures. Figures must be submitted as separate files and not included in the manuscript text, while tables must be included at the end of the manuscript file. Each table and figure must be numbered, given a descriptive title, and cited in the text.

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Recent Publications

Error in Byline

10.1001/jamasurg.2026.1541

View Publication

De-Escalating Axillary Surgery in Select Patients With Clinically Palpable Nodal Disease

Tari A. King, Cletus A. Arciero

10.1001/jamasurg.2026.1258

View Publication

Association of Rectal Cancer Accreditation with Patient Volume and Procedural Trends in the US

Anthony Loria, Yusheng Jia, Ronald J. Weigel, Steven D. Wexner, Ingrid M. Lizarraga, Samantha Hendren, Yue Li, Fergal J. Fleming

10.1001/jamasurg.2026.1259

View Publication

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Patients With cN1 HR+/HER2− Breast Cancer and Palpable Adenopathy

Anita Mamtani, Melissa Pilewskie, Niamey Wilson, Heiwon Chung Whang, Andrea V. Barrio, Leah Bassin, Deborah Capko, Daniel X. Choi, Hiram S. Cody, Stephanie Downs-Canner, Mahmoud El-Tamer, Mary L. Gemignani, Alexandra S. Heerdt, Laurie Kirstein, Minna K. Lee, Victoria L. Mango, Giacomo Montagna, Tracy-Ann Moo, Jacqueline Oxenberg, George Plitas, Michael Sabel, Virgilio Sacchini, Lisa Sclafani, Varadan Sevilimedu, Audree B. Tadros, Kimberly J. Van Zee, Monica Morrow

10.1001/jamasurg.2026.1268

View Publication

Using Administrative Data Responsibly

Jonah J. Stulberg, Coleman L. Miller, Dalya M. Ferguson

10.1001/jamasurg.2026.1135

View Publication

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to publish?

Median time to first decision is 10 days without external peer review and 40 days with review. All articles are published online first.

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Is a cover letter required?

A cover letter is required and must include complete contact information for the corresponding author and disclosure of whether related papers from the same study have been published, posted, or submitted.

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What are the publication costs?

Subscription access is available, and individual article purchase is listed at $45.00. Some articles are labeled open access.

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Research Topics

Cardiac, Anesthesia and Surgical Outcomes Diversity and Career in Medicine Surgical Simulation and Training Trauma and Emergency Care Studies Healthcare Policy and Management Pancreatic and Hepatic Oncology Research Colorectal Cancer Surgical Treatments Bariatric Surgery and Outcomes Hospital Admissions and Outcomes Healthcare cost, quality, practices Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Gastric Cancer Management and Outcomes Appendicitis Diagnosis and Management Breast Cancer Treatment Studies Hernia repair and management Neurosurgical Procedures and Complications Trauma, Hemostasis, Coagulopathy, Resuscitation Organ Transplantation Techniques and Outcomes Gallbladder and Bile Duct Disorders Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment and Prognosis Intraperitoneal and Appendiceal Malignancies Esophageal Cancer Research and Treatment Surgical site infection prevention Diverticular Disease and Complications

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