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World Journal of Surgical Oncology – What Researchers and Students Really Need to Know

World Journal of Surgical Oncology – What Researchers and Students Really Need to Know

Written by Connor Wood
August 21, 2025•5 min read

World Journal of Surgical Oncology

World Journal of Surgical Oncology (WJSO) – Quick Info

  • Full Title & Scope:
    World Journal of Surgical Oncology (abbreviated World J Surg Oncol) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by BioMed Central. It focuses on surgical oncology and related disciplines such as epidemiology, biomarkers, cancer diagnosis and treatment, pathology, radiology, clinical trials, multimodal therapy, and molecular biology—emphasizing original research, clinical case reports, and timely topic reviews.

  • Publication Details:

    • Established: 2003
    • Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd (part of Springer Nature)
    • Publishing Frequency: Irregular (articles are published upon acceptance rather than in fixed issues)
    • Open Access (OA): Fully OA (Gold OA, 100% of articles freely accessible) under a CC BY or CC 0 license, archived in LOCKSS, PMC, etc.

  • Indexing & Classification:

    • Indexed in major databases including SCIE (Science Citation Index Expanded).

    • Journal Citation Reports (JCR):

      • Impact Factor (2023): 2.5
      • 5-Year IF: 2.8

    • CiteScore (Scopus, 2024): 4.7, ranked Q1 in Surgery and Q2 in Oncology categories

    • SJR (Scimago Journal Rank): ~0.733

  • Scientific Classification:

    • In the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) subject classification (2023 upgrade):

      • Medicine: Q3
      • Oncology: Q2
      • Surgery: Q1
      • Overall: Positioned in 3rd quartile for Medicine and in upper tiers for Surgery and Oncology

    • JCR rankings:

      • Oncology (by JIF): ~183/322 (Q3)
      • Surgery (by JIF): ~68/290 (Q1)

  • Peer-Review Speed & Processing Details:

    • Initial decision: Often within 7 days; accepted manuscripts published in about one month in favorable cases (though typical total processing is around 2–4 months)
    • Self-citation rate: Very low (~4%)
    • Article Processing Charge (APC): USD 2,990 (or equivalent in GBP/EUR); payment required post-acceptance

  • Article Volume & Contributor Profile:

    • Annual publications: ~370–409 articles in recent years; 2023 saw 376 articles
    • Notably high proportion of contributions from Mainland China (approx. 70–73% for 2023–2024)

Summary Table

AttributeDetails
PublisherBioMed Central (Springer Nature)
Start Year2003
FrequencyIrregular
Access ModelGold Open Access (CC BY/CC0)
Impact Factor (2023)2.5 (5-Year: 2.8)
CiteScore (2024)4.7 (Surgery: Q1; Oncology: Q2)
SJR~0.733
CAS/JCR QuartileMedicine: Q3; Oncology: Q2; Surgery: Q1
Review SpeedInitial ~7 days; full process ~2–4 months
APCUSD 2,990
Annual Output~370–409 articles per year
Major Contributors~70–73% from Mainland China (2023–2024)

The Journal at a Glance

World Journal of Surgical Oncology is part of the BMC family, which means it’s open access. That’s great for readers because you can browse articles without jumping through paywalls. But, of course, the other side of “open access” is the ​publication fee​, also known as an article processing charge (APC). We’ll get to that in a bit.

The journal publishes research on all things surgical oncology—cancer surgery techniques, epidemiology, biomarkers, you name it. If it sits at the intersection of surgery and oncology, WJSO has probably covered it.

And yes, it has a formal abbreviation you’ll see in citations: World J Surg Oncol. Tiny detail, big deal—especially if you’re formatting a manuscript at 2 a.m. and your reference manager refuses to cooperate.

Where to Find Volumes, Issues, and Articles

If you’re looking for actual content rather than just stats, you’ll usually end up in one of three places:

What kind of papers will you find?

  • Original research on surgical oncology topics.
  • Reviews synthesizing existing evidence.
  • Case reports (yes, WJSO accepts them—more on that below).

Think of it as a global library shelf that updates every few weeks. No dusty books. No closed doors. Just fresh articles straight to your screen.

Metrics, Rankings, and the Infamous Impact Factor

Ah, the ​impact factor​—a single number researchers love to quote. People search for world journal of surgical oncology impact factor because they want a quick quality signal. But here’s the thing: while the impact factor gives you the average number of citations per article, it’s not the full picture of a journal’s reputation.

WJSO is also indexed in SCImago with its ​**quartile ranking (Q)**​—another metric that matters when you’re filling out grant applications or performance reviews. SCImago’s SJR score measures how influential a journal is in its field. If the impact factor is like a Yelp star rating, the SJR is more like asking a few seasoned locals where they actually eat. Both useful, but different.

And yes, people also look up terms like “world journal of surgical oncology if” (short for impact factor) and “world journal of surgical oncology quartile.” It’s a way to cross-check credibility before deciding where to submit.

Publication Details People Keep Asking About

Let’s tackle these one by one—because you’ll see these questions everywhere.

Abbreviation

Officially: ​World J Surg Oncol​. You’ll see this on PubMed, citation databases, and reference lists.

Publication Fee (APC)

Like most open-access journals, WJSO charges an article processing fee to cover editorial and production costs. Depending on your institution or region, you might qualify for a discount or waiver. Always check with your university library—many have agreements with BMC.

Acceptance Rate

This one’s tricky. WJSO doesn’t publish an exact acceptance rate publicly, but you’ll find discussions in academic forums suggesting it’s moderately selective. Remember: acceptance rate isn’t the only indicator of quality. Some excellent open-access journals have higher acceptance rates simply because they publish a larger volume of solid research.

Shalini Singh – Editor

Yes, researchers literally search ​shalini singh editor world journal of surgical oncology​. As the editor, Singh helps oversee manuscript decisions and peer review standards. No, she’s not “guarding the gates,” but she does ensure that submissions meet the journal’s scientific rigor.

What About Case Reports?

World Journal of Surgical Oncology does publish case reports. In surgical oncology, these often highlight unusual tumors, novel treatment strategies, or surgical complications worth documenting.

Case reports may not earn a ton of citations, but they have an outsized influence in sparking new research directions. Think of them as small but powerful stories—a single patient’s experience that can ripple outward and shape future studies.

Annals vs. WJSO – Clearing Up the Confusion

Here’s something funny: many searchers accidentally land on Annals of Surgical Oncology while looking for WJSO. Both are respected journals, both cover surgical oncology, but they’re published by different organizations. WJSO is under BMC/Springer; Annals is backed by the Society of Surgical Oncology.

So if you typed “World Journal of Surgical Oncology” and somehow ended up on ​Annals​—don’t worry, you’re not alone. It happens because search engines mix related oncology journals when indexing similar keywords.

Practical Tips for Researchers and Students

  • Check both impact factor and quartile before deciding where to submit. Some institutions care more about Q1/Q2 ranking than raw IF.
  • Don’t panic about APCs. Institutions often have publishing agreements that cover or reduce fees.
  • ​Use the official homepage for submissions​—don’t trust third-party email invitations (predatory journals mimic legitimate titles).
  • If you’re writing a case report, make sure it’s detailed, well-illustrated, and adds something new to the field. Journals appreciate unique angles.

Submitting to a journal is a bit like choosing where to present at a conference. You’re not just asking, “Will they take me?” You’re also asking, “Will my work find the right audience here?”

FAQs about World Journal of Surgical Oncology

1. What is the impact factor of World Journal of Surgical Oncology?
The exact figure changes yearly, but WJSO consistently holds a respectable impact factor listed in Clarivate and indexed in SCImago, placing it in a solid quartile for oncology research.

2. How can I submit a case report to WJSO?
Submit directly via the journal’s homepage. Ensure your case report is well-structured and clearly states its clinical relevance.

3. What is the abbreviation of World Journal of Surgical Oncology?
The official abbreviation is ​World J Surg Oncol​, used in PubMed and citation indexes.

4. Does WJSO charge a publication fee?
Yes. As an open-access journal, it charges an article processing fee (APC). Waivers or discounts may be available depending on institutional agreements.

5. Who is Shalini Singh in relation to the journal?
Shalini Singh serves as an editor, overseeing peer review and maintaining the journal’s editorial standards.

Looking for quick summaries of WJSO articles or need help finding ​related oncology research in seconds​? PubMed.ai can help you search, analyze, and organize biomedical literature without the usual hassle. Instead of manually skimming dozens of papers, you can get ​AI-powered summaries, citation data, and structured research reports​—perfect for students writing reviews or researchers tracking oncology trends.