Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

How to Write a Traditional Case Report

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Writing Case Reports

  • 1986 Accesses

Abstract

The traditional case report consists of a title, abstract, introduction, case description, discussion, and conclusion with a teaching point. This chapter describes how to write a traditional case report, from title to conclusion, in a logical, concise, and publishable style. Key requirements for a successful case report include a straightforward and descriptive title; a focused case description with all essential elements; appropriate use of clinimetrics, including clinical biomarkers, laboratory tests, and reproducible indices; a graphical timeline; a discussion of the context of the case, with a comparison table if appropriate; an explanation of the events of the case, including cause and effect or relatedness of events, differential diagnosis, and a well-supported and logical hypothesis; speculation on the broader implications of the case; and a conclusion with a simple, clear, and memorable teaching point.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Sagi I, Yechiam E. Amusing titles in scientific journals and article citation. J Inform Sci. 2008;34(5):680–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Packer CD. Chronic hypokalemia due to excessive cola consumption: a case report. Cases J. 2008;1:32.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Jenicek M. Clinical case reporting in evidence-based medicine. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann; 1999. p. 51.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Packer CD, Packer DM. Beta-blockers, stage fright, and vibrato: a case report. Med Probl Perform Art. 2005;20(3):126–30.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chiang E, Packer CD. Concurrent reactive arthritis, Graves’ disease, and warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia: a case report. Cases J. 2009;2:6988.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Packer CD, Mileti LM. Vertebral sarcoidosis mimicking lytic osseous metastases: development 16 years after apparent resolution of thoracic sarcoidosis. J Clin Rheumatol. 2005;11(2):105–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gagnier JJ, Kienle G, Altman DG, et al. The CARE guidelines: consensus-based clinical case reporting guideline development. J Med Case Rep. 2013;7:223.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Rison RA. A guide to writing case reports for the Journal of Medical Case Reports and Biomed Central Research Notes. J Med Case Rep. 2013;7:239.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Iacopetti C, Packer CD. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: a case report and review of pathophysiology. Clin Med Res. 2014;12(1–2):65–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Packer CD, Hornick TR, Augustine SA. Fatal hemolytic anemia associated with metformin: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2008;2:300.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Choe MJ, Packer CD. Severe romiplostim-induced rebound thrombocytopenia after splenectomy for refractory ITP. Ann Pharmacother. 2015;49(1):140–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Katz RB, Packer CD. Lithium toxicity presenting as transient transcortical motor aphasia: a case report. Psychosomatics. 2014;55(1):87–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Packer CD. Metformin-associated lactic acidosis in a patient with vertebral artery dissection. South Med J. 2006;99(10):1147–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Reinke CE, Resnick AS. Incarcerated appendix in a spigelian hernia. J Surg Case Rep. 2010;10:3.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Muir K, Packer CD. Thrombocytopenia in the setting of dialysis using biocompatible membranes. Case Report Med. 2012;2012:358024.

    Google Scholar 

  16. U.S.-acquired human rabies with symptom onset and diagnosis abroad, 2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2012;61(39):777–81.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Wali E, Koo P, Packer CD. Acute obstructive suppurative pancreatic ductitis in an asymptomatic patient. Case Rep Med. 2015;2015:919452.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Leaute-Labreze C, Dumas de la Roque E, Hubiche T, Boralevi F, Thambo J, Taieb A. Propranolol for severe hemangiomas of infancy. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:2649–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Tsimihodimos V, Kakaidi V, Elisaf M. I Cola-induced hypokalaemia: pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical implications. Int J Clin Pract. 2009;63(6):900–2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Storch CH, Hoeger PH. Propranolol for infantile haemangiomas: insights into the molecular mechanisms of action. Br J Dermatol. 2010;163(2):269–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Krimmel JD, Packer CD. Type B lactic acidosis in the setting of gastric adenocarcinoma with extensive metastases. Med Princ Pract. 2015;24:391–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Skelton JR, Edwards SJ. The function of the discussion section in academic medical writing. BMJ. 2000;320(7244):1269–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Wang J, Packer CD. Acute abdominal pain after intercourse: adrenal hemorrhage as the first sign of metastatic lung cancer. Case Report Med. 2014;2014:612036.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Muehlenbachs A, Bhatnagar J, Agudelo CA, et al. Malignant transformation of Hymenolepsis nana in a human host. N Engl J Med. 2015;373(19):1845–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Gagnier JJ, Kienle G, Altman DG, Moher D, Sox H, Riley D. The CARE guidelines: consensus-based clinical case report guideline development. J Clin Epidemiol. 2014;67(1):46–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Clifford D. Packer MD

Authors
  1. Clifford D. Packer MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Clifford D. Packer MD .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Packer, C.D. (2017). How to Write a Traditional Case Report. In: Writing Case Reports. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41899-5_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41899-5_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-41898-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-41899-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation