Getting Published: Case Reports

A case study is a type of research reporting a unique or novel occurrence.

It is a focused report describing symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of an individual patient. Case studies can lead to future research and clinical advances.

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Gather the following:

• Permission from the primary physician / principal investigator
• Signed patient consent form
• Patient history and notes
• Lab and imaging results
• Copies (not originals) of records, as needed

Utilize resources when you have questions

Students must work with a PI on case reports.

PIs can be on-campus or off-campus Midwestern University affiliates. If a potential PI is not affiliated with the university, a formal request may be needed.

IRB approval must be obtained for case reports to be presented as article or poster submission.

Midwestern University provides information regarding responsible conduct of research with human subjects and completing the institutional review board forms:

A journal's author instructions provide information specific to the journal. The basic elements of a case report is:

• Structure - abstract, introduction, case description, literature review, discussion / conclusion
• Word Count - 1500 or fewer words
• References - 20 or fewer citations
• Figures / Tables - 2 or fewer

Consider using the CARE guidelines to structure your case report. The CARE guidelines were developed to increase the accuracy, transparency, and usefulness of case reports.

The website includes:

• a reporting checklist
• writing guidance
• case report examples

When selecting a journal for publication, consider the following:

• How much is the author publishing fee?
  • Some journals publish without article processing fees while other may cost ~$1,000
• Is the journal trustworthy?
  • Selecting a high-quality journal can make your article easier to find and used by others
  • Finding the Right Journal
• Does the journal accept case reports?
  • The following resources list journals that publish case reports:

Poster Design & Presentation:

• Prepare a 1 minute, 2-3 minute, and 5 minute presentation of your poster in advance
• Keep the colors, imagery, and font simple in your poster design
• Check copyright limitations and privacy issues for any images used
• Midwestern University provides poster templates and information on ordering your poster:

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1. Guidelines To Writing A Clinical Case Report. Heart Views. 2017;18(3):104-105. doi:10.4103/1995-705X.217857
2. Drury A, Pape E, Dowling M, Miguel S, Fernández-Ortega P, Papadopoulou C, Kotronoulas G. How to write a comprehensive and informative research abstract. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2023;39(2):151395. doi: 10.1016/j.soncn.2023.151395
3. Parums DV. The increasing relevance of case reports in medical education and clinical practice - and how to write them. Am J Case Rep. 2023;24:e942670. doi:10.12659/AJCR.942670
4. Willis LD. How to Present your research findings at a scientific meeting. Resp Care. 2023;68(11):1598-1605. doi:10.4187/respcare.11226