Dr.

Emmanuel Abara FRCS(C) FACS FICS

Richmond Hill Urology Practice & Prostate Institute
(RHUPPI)
Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM)

Conflict Disclosure Information:

Presenter: Emmanuel O. Abara MB FRCSC.FACS.FICS
Title of Presentation: Interesting Case! Should we report
it?: How to Write a Case Report 101
I have no financial or personal relationships to disclose

 Determine

what types of cases are

worth reporting and why
Understand how to structure a Case
Report
Learn what audience to reach and
what journals to publish in
Understand the Ethics of Publishing

 Physicians in active clinical practice

Faculty seeking to review their

knowledge on Case Report

publishing
Fellows
Residents
Research Assistants
Learners

 Case

report is like story telling in

medicine
Should be clear, short and useful for
its purpose
Is the written form of the verbal
presentation of a case history
Case reports are the lowest cadre in
the world of evidence-based medicine
Can be powerful and instructional

We need to understand the reasons

for the intent to publish
To
To

assist in structure of the article

help target the journal and
audience
To include in an introductory Letter to
the Editor

 Very rare disease

Association of diseases
Rare presentations of more

common

diseases
Outcome of a novel treatment
Reporting a particular outcome of a
case management
Mistakes, complications and lessons
learned
A new disease entity

 Select a number of
Review the various

journals
formats of the

journals
Make a decision which format may fit
your Case Report best, e.g.: Lesson of
the Year or Photo Quiz
Review published case reports in the
journal of choice
Follow the guidelines and instructions
precisely, especially regarding word
count, figures and tables

 Abstract
Introduction
The Case Report
Discussion
Conclusion; Lessons
References
Acknowledgement

Learned

 Abstract:

Brief summary (not

required by all journals)
Introduction: Background
information and why the case is
being reported

Case Report
History
Presenting features
Past Medical History
Social and Family History
Drug History
Physical Examination
Investigations
Differential Diagnosis
Treatment
Outcome

 Anonymise

the patient(s) as much as

possible
Avoid names and initials
Omit non-essential personal details
Table of results can be helpful
Photos of clinical signs and
diagnostic studies are invaluable

 Clarify key issues

Refer to other cases in the literature
A short review of the literature is

appropriate
Include the methodology used for
literature search
Message or lesson(s) learned

 Get

advice early!

Especially regarding: Key Message and

Reason for the Case Report

Get

others not involved in the

management of the case to
proofread the article and consider
their comments carefully

 Consent
Consider privacy laws
Duty of confidentiality

persists even
if the patient has died, e.g.: Role of
Next-of-Kin
Deliver a copy of published paper to
the patient or relative

 Publication

should be in the public

interest
Every effort to contact patient or
next-of-kin should have failed
Every effort to anonymise the case
report should be made
Average person unlikely to withhold
consent

 Consider

assent to publish from other

clinicians involved in the care of the
patient
Authors included need to have
intellectual input
Avoid a soccer team of authors
Many journals may limit the number of
authors
Letters and consent from various
named co-authors may be required

 Have

all the consents and assents to

publish
Follow all the instructions and
guidelines of the journal webpage
Write and include a cover letter to
the editor

A Case Report may be the

beginning of a glorious and
successful career in
medical writing!