Preface : Invited Issue Editor, Professor Joon-Ki Kang, and the Topic, Craniosynostosis.

Abstract

Last year, in 2015, the first 'Pediatric Issue' of the Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society was published with the help of Dr. Jung Yul Park, the former Editor-in-Chief, and Dr. Chang Taek Moon, the current Editor-in-Chief. The Issue aims to share updated information on specific topics of pediatric neurosurgery with general neurosurgeons or those in other subspecialties. Due to the limited number of pediatric neurosurgeons in Korea, children with neurosurgical problems visit general neurosurgeons or those in other subspecialties during the first stage of treatment. The Pediatric Issue will be helpful not only for pediatric neurosurgeons but also for those who are not familiar with pediatric neurosurgical problems. The topic of the first Pediatric Issue in 2015 was 'moyamoya disease', and it was organized by invited Issue Editor, Dr. Seung-Ki Kim, who is the chairperson of the Publication Committee of the Korean Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (KSPN). The topic of the Pediatric Issue in 2016 is 'craniosynostosis', and it is organized by the invited Issue Editor, Professor Joon-Ki Kang, who is a pioneer of pediatric neurosurgery in Korea (Fig. 1). Fig. 1 Invited Issue Editor, Professor Joo-Ki Kang. Professor Joon-Ki Kang was born on February 10th, 1941 and graduated from the Catholic University Medical College in 1966. He was trained as a neurosurgical resident from 1967 to 1971 at St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul and got the neurosurgical board certification in 1971. Dr. Kang studied abroad at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in Queen Square, London from 1978 to 1980 as a clinical fellow of Pediatric Neurosurgery. He was particularly interested in the anomalies of the central nervous system (CNS) such as spinal dysraphism, craniosynostosis and hydrocephalus. After he returned from the U.K. in 1980, he founded the Pediatric Neurosurgical Department at St. Mary's Hospital and started treating children with CNS anomalies, especially craniofacial anomalies, and managed more than 100 cases of cranial deformities during 5 years. In 1987, he became a member of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (ISPN) and presented a large series of pediatric cranial deformities. Thereafter, he continued his work in craniosynostosis and published related articles in international journals. He founded the KSPN in 1987 and successfully hosted the 19th Annual Meeting of the ISPN in Seoul in 1991. Later, in 1999, he became the President of the ISPN. He has contributed to recognition and improved reputation of the KSPN in international pediatric neurosurgical societies. In 2006, he retired from the Catholic University and now works at a private hospital. Several of his representative published articles on craniosynostosis are listed below. 1. Craniofacial anomalies : Surgery of Crouzon's disease. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 16 : 289-296, 1987 2. Perioperative specific management of blood volume loss in craniosynostosis surgery. Childs Nerv Syst 14 : 297-301, 1998 3. Comparison between pediatric and adult neurosurgery : Management and future perspectives - Tethered cord syndrome, hydrocephalus, craniosynostosis. Childs Nerv Syst 15 : 795-799, 1999 Professor Kang selected craniosynostosis as the topic of the Pediatric Issue of 2016. Remarkable changes have occurred in the areas of genetics, pathophysiology, diagnosis, surgical management and follow-up strategies during the last few decades. Professor Kang wanted to share these changes and trends with all of the members of Korean Neurosurgical Society. Ten articles were contributed by leading researchers in this field in Korea and Japan. For the genetics section, a pediatrician, Dr. Ko, was invited. Professor Kang also invited Drs. Sakamoto and Gomi of Japan to discuss the topic of syndromic craniosynostosis and provide updated information on distraction osteogenesis, respectively. Current and future perspectives are added at the end by Professor Kang. We appreciate all of the contributors, especially those from the Departments of Pediatrics and Radiology and those from Japan, for their active participation, as well as Professor Kang, for his enthusiasm in the role of editor.