How to write a Case Report

Many of us write because we believe we have something important to say, but junior doctors are often urged to publish because it contributes to their scoring in obtaining a training number. The problem is how to get started.

The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology accepts Case Reports (they represent about one-quarter of our pages). We are recognised as being widely read by trainees and therefore we encourage trainees to write for us. We will even spend time re-writing your article to help to get it published! We will not discriminate against senior authors as first authors, but do encourage juniors. However, I suggest you observe the following rules:

1. In selecting a case to report there has to be a happy balance. We are less inclined to report on hen's teeth or something that will never be seen again in a clinical lifetime. However, rare cases can provide important messages on diagnosis or management. Where no one unit will be able to develop experience to report on a series of such cases, these single Case Reports may provoke further discussion with a wider audience in the correspondence columns.

2. Some cases, e.g. features of a cancer or management of an ectopic are likely to be commonly seen. Therefore you may have to have a new slant on things to get your case published.

3. If you have a case that you see as interesting, check what has been published by us in the past 2 years. Sometimes we will have Case Reports accepted and scheduled for publishing in the following 6 months. If you want clarification, you can write to the Editorial Office to see if a particular case is suitable.

4. We will not accept for publication the description of management that has been inadequate or below acceptable clinical standards unless there is a clear educational or training message.

5. A point is sometimes better made if there is an illustration, e.g. an image from ultrasound or MRI, a clinical photograph or histopathology, but you should then include your radiology or pathology colleague as a co-author.

6. You do not have to include your consultant as a co-author but we would then like a letter from the consultant responsible for the case to indicate that the Report has been read and has their approval – this may avoid later misunderstandings.

7. Your description of the case must avoid patient identification, i.e. you do not include her initials, date of birth, date of presentation, or identifying features on the images. We do not (yet) insist on having the patient's signature of approval, but if you think it is easier and would avoid embarrassment you can show her the Report (without necessarily including the discussion) and ask her to sign her approval. She may seek this reassurance, e.g. if you are using a photograph of her vulval lesion.

8. Please use the described format for our Case Reports:

   • You do not need an introduction and it may waste words

   • Restrict the number of words to approximately 400 words

   • Please use English (UK) spelling and grammar

   • Use the correct format for the authors' details, and for the references

   • Restrict the number of references to less than ten. A Case Report and Review of the Literature will usually be only a limited review, or it may contain so many references that we will not accept it for publication.

9. Educational message. Sometimes we wonder why cases have been reported and why we should consider them for publication. However, if your case has a clear educational message – rather than finishing with a Conclusion, finish your Report with an ‘Educational message’, of one or two sentences.

10. We will allow you several attempts at re-construction and re-writing. If a Reviewer gives advice, please use it. Remember it is much easier to reject an article if it is in the wrong format or you do not follow our suggestions. We now receive more Case Reports than we can publish, so do not hinder yourself in the process.