Professor Keith Roberts, the author of the leading article discusses the articles in this important area. We also talk to Professor Steven Wexner about the possibilities and limitations of social media when used in the field of surgical science.

Wendy Barnaby talks to Professor John Reynolds about national registries for oesophagogastric cancer and issues from the December 2016 issue of BJS

Three authors discuss their articles on biofilm formation, vaccines and glucose levels from the special issue on surgical infections

Three authors included in the special issue on surgery in the elderly (volume 103, issue 2), discuss the issues surrounding treatment and care of the older patient.

JM van Rij, JS Lindholt and JJ Earnshaw discuss the July 2015 issue of BJS (volume 102, issue 8), which contains a number of articles on abdominal aortic aneurysms.

D. Scott-Coombes, President of the British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons, discusses the March 2015 issue of BJS (volume 102, issue 4), which contains a leading article, three invited reviews and an original article on the subject of endocrine surgery.

BJS, Treatment of varicose veins and cost-effectiveness

Julie Brittenden, Bruce Campbell and Dan Carradice discuss the various treatment options available for varicose veins, and their associated quality of life outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

Areas discussed include breast cancer treatment influenced by molecular subtype, the slow movement towards towards breast-conserving surgery after NACT, and next-generation sequencing.

Mr Jonothan Earnshaw, Joint Chief Editor of BJS, discusses contents of this issue.

The development of emergency surgery as a surgical specialty in its own right is discussed along with the growing burden of global disease requiring emergency surgery.