Author: Pranitha Pothuri, OMS III, ARCOM
Editors: Sneha Polam and Samantha Licciardi
Updated: January 31, 2024
Case reports are a great way for medical students to get involved in research and report on interesting cases/scientific findings. Typically, they are brief and very focused1. They usually described a rare or uncommon presentation or patient condition and the treatment plan that followed. They can also present a unique treatment modality for a condition or an unusual side effect to a therapy. Writing case reports can enhance your CV, contribute to the knowledge of the medical community as a whole, and bring awareness to new diseases and interesting condition presentations. Case reports also explore the impacts and implications of a new discovery in the field of medicine.
Oftentimes, identifying a suitable case can be the most challenging part. If you’re interested in a particular speciality, you can contact faculty members in that speciality and express your interest so they can notify you of potential cases. Other times, however, the subject of a case report can arise unexpectedly during rotations so it’s best to always keep your eyes peeled. It can be helpful to ask your preceptor or residents on your rotations about interesting cases and if they have any opportunities to write a case report.
Initial Steps:
When writing the report, you want to make sure first you have your preceptor’s permission. Obtaining patient consent for a case report is also important. Your preceptor can help facilitate this conversation because it’s a delicate balance between advancing medicine with new information and maintaining patient confidentiality. Given how rare a condition may be for a particular case, it may be difficult to maintain a patient’s anonymity so they must be made aware of this before you attempt to publish your case report.2
Before beginning to write your case report, you will want to find 3-5 quality sources to cite to add background information to your case. This will help to establish what is already known in the field so you can demonstrate what new information your case adds. Once you do this, you can begin to write the introduction and description of the case. Avoid passive verbs and wordy language, use appropriate medical terms, and if you have any associated imaging make sure to label it and include a standard version for comparison. When writing about the case itself, attempt to go in chronological order and be sure to include all relevant results/diagnoses. In the discussion portion, explain what new information your case adds and what impacts this has on the field. Also, you can discuss the implications of this case in the overall field of medicine and limitations if any were present.
Steps Before Beginning to Write a Case Report
- Find an interesting case either through a mentor, during rotations, etc.
- Ask for permission from your preceptor/physician for that patient
- Research 3-5 quality sources to obtain background information on your case, establish what is known, and find what new information your case contributes
- Find relevant journals to publish your case report in and see if they have specific requirements
General Components of a Case Report:
- Title
- Should use clinically relevant keywords so readers know exactly what your case is about
- Short and focused – highlight the unique aspect of the case
- Ensure the title is compliant with journal guidelines
- Abstract
- Brief summary of case and problem
- Between 250-500 words
- Be cognizant of requirements for journals/conferences you submit to
- Concisely deliver the necessary information
- Avoid being wordy or using passive language
- Introduction
- Include background information on the case
- Provide a brief overview of the case
- Describe the problem the case addresses
- Include any relevant literature
- This will help establish what is already known in the field so you can demonstrate what new information your case brings
- Conclude with a single sentence describing the patient and the condition they are suffering from
- Case Description
- Make sure all patient information is de-identified
- Present information in chronological order
- Include:
- Patient’s age and demographics
- Comorbidities and chronic conditions
- Physical exam findings
- Relevant past medical/social history
- Imaging and labs
- Diagnoses
- Treatment plan and outcome
- Use figures if relevant (If using a figure, label it appropriately and be sure to also include a “normal” presentation)
- Discussion
- Expand on the introduction
- Why was the case noteworthy?
- What problem does this case address?
- Discuss existing literature and theories
- Connect the existing literature to the case
- Future impacts to clinical practice
- Limitations of your case study
- Conclusion
- Summary
- Describe the key points covered in the case report
- Suggestions
- Recommendations to clinicians, professors or students in clinical practice
- Recommendations regarding further studies
Once you have finished writing your report, you’ll want to make sure it’s edited by a faculty member, your preceptor or the resident on the case. Librarians are a great source of information if you have questions or need assistance with the writing process. You can also consider presenting your case as a research poster at your school’s conference, a speciality conference, or a virtual conference such as the National SOMA research symposium. In addition, you should seek journals to publish your case report. [Case Report Journals Database]
Overall case reports are a great way to get involved with research during medical school. You can aid the medical community by sharing your unique case and further medical research and knowledge overall. This guide can serve as a great resource when you go to write your own case report!
References
- Sun, Z. (2013, September). Tips for writing a case report for the novice author. Journal of medical radiation sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4175810/
- Gibson, E. (2008, October). Publication of case reports: Is consent required?. Paediatrics & child health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2606070/