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This checklist was developed by CARE to correspond with key components of a case report and capture useful clinical information (including 'meaningful use' information mandated by some insurance plans). The narrative: A case report tells a story in a narrative format that includes the presenting concerns, clinical findings, diagnoses, interventions, outcomes (including adverse events), and follow-up. The narrative should include a discussion of the rationale for any conclusions and any take-away messages. |
| Topic | Item | Checklist Item Description |
| Title | 1 | The words "case report: should be in the title, along with area of focus |
| Keywords | 2 | Four to seven keywords - include "case report" as one of the keywords |
| Abstract | 3a | Background: What does this case report add to the medical literature? |
| 3b | Case summary: chief complaint, diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes | |
| 3c | Conclusion: What is the main "take-away" lesson from this case? | |
| Introduction | 4 | The current standard of care and contributions of this case - with references (1-2 paragraphs) |
| Timeline | 5 | Information from this case report organized into a timelines (table or figure) |
| Patient Information | 6a | De-identified demographic and other patient or client specific information |
| 6b | Chief complaint - what prompted the visit? | |
| 6c | Relevant history including past interventions and outcomes | |
| Physical Exam | 7 | Relevant physical examination findings |
| Diagnostic Assessment | 8a | Evaluations such as surveys, laboratory testing, imaging, etc. |
| 8b | Diagnostic reasoning including other diagnoses considered and challenges | |
| 8c | Consider tables or figures linking assessment, diagnoses, and interventions | |
| 8d | Prognostic characteristics where applicable | |
| Interventions | 9a | Types such as lifestyle recommendations, treatments, medications, surgery |
| 9b | Intervention administration such as dosage, frequency, and duration | |
| 9c | Note changes in intervention with explanation | |
| 9d | Other concurrent interventions | |
| Follow-up and Outcomes | 10a | Clinician assessment (and patient or client assessed outcomes when appropriate) |
| 10b | Important follow-up diagnostic evaluations | |
| 10c | Assessment of intervention adherence and tolerability, including adverse events | |
| Discussion | 11a | Strengths and limitations in your approach to the case |
| 11b | Specify how this case report informs practice or Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) | |
| 11c | How does this case report suggest a testable hypothesis? | |
| 11d | Conclusions and rationale | |
| Patient Perspective | 12 | When appropriate, include the assessment of the patient or client on this episode of care |
| Informed Consent | 13 | Informed consent from the person who is the subject of this case report, required by most journals |
| Additional Information | 14 | Acknowledgement section; Competing Interests; IRB approval when required |
Gagnier JJ, Riley D, Altman DG, Moher D, Sox H, Kienle GS, for the CARE group: The CARE guidelines: Consensus-based clinical case reporting guideline development. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2013; 110(37): 603-8.
| The following journals are indexed in Medline and currently accepting case reports (as of 12/2/2016) either regularly or under specific circumstances. Click on the links below to view the author instructions for each journal and determine if your case meets the journal's criteria. |
The CAse REporting (CARE) team created templates in nine languages to assist clinicians, researchers, and educators with the ultimate goal of improving the completeness, transparency, and usefulness of case reports.
English, Spanish, German, Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese
A list of case report journals can be found in the pdf below. It provides information on the year launched, open-access status, reported questionable publishing practices, and whether the journal is indexed in Medline. The majority of these journals are open-access and will require a submission fee.
The Library has an institutional fellowship with BMJ Case Reports which allows faculty, staff, and students at Weill Cornell Medicine to submit case reports without paying an individual fellowship fee. Use our fellowship code when you are ready to publish.
Please note: BMJ Case Reports, like most journals, requires a signed consent form in order for a case report to be considered for publication.