How To Write a Medical Case Report: Step 1 - Identify an Appropriate Case

You've come across an interesting case, but is it interesting enough for a journal or conference to consider accepting? It needs to meet the "so what" factor. Consider whether it fits any of the following:

• New disease/condition
• Unusual presentation or manifestation of a known condition
• A unique reaction to a medication or treatment not previously reported
• A new idea/theory of mechanism of a disease/condition
• A rare or unusual physical, laboratory, or imaging finding
• Education/ teaching point(s)

If you have questions on whether you think your case would make a good case report, ask your faculty mentor. Don't have a faculty mentor, refer to Step 5.

• Patient presenting to the E.D. with a serum sodium of 93 mmol/L (unpublished)
• Patient with acute decompensated heart failure exacerbated by abdominal splenosis
• Patient presenting with acute decompensated heart failure due to ANCA negative eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis proven by myocardial biopsy
• Patient presenting with drug induced liver injury proven by biopsy due to tirzepatide (2nd reported case; unpublished)