A case report is the lowest-barrier route to a PubMed-indexed publication. You don't need a research grant, ethics approval, or a statistician. You need an interesting case, proper consent, and the ability to write clearly.
For medical students and foundation doctors building a portfolio for specialty training applications, one published case report can mean the difference between meeting and missing the publications threshold. Here's how to do it.
Choosing a case
Not every interesting case is publishable. Journals want cases that add something to the literature — not just "this was unusual." Publishable cases typically involve at least one of:
A rare condition or rare presentation of a common condition. If you search PubMed and find fewer than 10 similar published cases, it's likely publishable.
An unexpected diagnosis where the clinical presentation was misleading. The case that was treated as X but turned out to be Y — with learning points about what should have prompted reconsideration.
A novel treatment approach or a known treatment used in an unusual context with a documented outcome.
A diagnostic challenge that illustrates an important clinical reasoning lesson — how a common complaint can mask something serious, or how an unusual investigation finding changed management.
An adverse drug reaction or unexpected complication that isn't well-documented in the literature.
Getting consent
You must have written consent from the patient (or their legal representative) before you write anything. This is non-negotiable — journals will ask for evidence of consent during submission, and publishing without consent is a GMC-level professional issue.
Use your hospital or university's standard consent form for case publication. If one doesn't exist, draft a simple form stating: the case will be published in a medical journal, identifying details will be removed or anonymised, and the patient consents to publication. The patient can withdraw consent at any time before publication.
If the patient has died and no legal representative is contactable, some journals accept a statement explaining the efforts made to obtain consent. Check the target journal's specific policy.
The structure
Most case reports follow a standard format: Abstract, Introduction, Case Presentation, Discussion, Conclusion.
Abstract (150–250 words): Background (one sentence), case summary (3–4 sentences), key finding or lesson (one sentence). Write this last.
Introduction (200–300 words): Why this case matters. Brief context on the condition and why this presentation is noteworthy. End with a sentence explaining what this case adds.
Case presentation (500–1,000 words): The clinical narrative. Present chronologically: demographics (age, sex, relevant background), presenting complaint, history, examination findings, investigations (with results), management, and outcome. Include relevant images (with consent) — clinical photographs, imaging, histopathology. Tables for lab results are clearer than prose.
Discussion (500–800 words): The analysis. Compare your case to published literature. What's similar? What's different? What are the possible mechanisms? What are the clinical learning points? What would you recommend clinicians do differently based on this case? This is where you demonstrate your understanding and where reviewers judge quality.
Conclusion (50–100 words): The take-home message in 2–3 sentences. What should a clinician remember from this case?
Choosing a journal
BMJ Case Reports — the largest case report journal. Institutional fellowship (your university or trust may have one) eliminates the publication fee. Indexed on PubMed. Good acceptance rate for well-written cases.
Cureus — open access, no publication fee, PubMed-indexed. Faster review process. Lower rejection rate, which some academics view as lower prestige, but for portfolio purposes a PubMed-indexed publication is a PubMed-indexed publication.
JRSM Short Reports / Oxford Medical Case Reports / other specialty-specific case report journals — consider these if your case fits a specific specialty.
General rule: Match the significance of your case to the journal. A genuinely novel case with broad clinical implications can aim higher. A solid case with good learning points but limited novelty fits BMJ Case Reports or Cureus perfectly.
The timeline
Week 1: Identify case, obtain consent, gather clinical data (notes, investigations, images).
Weeks 2–3: Write first draft. Get a co-author (ideally a senior clinician involved in the case) to review.
Week 4: Revise based on feedback. Format according to target journal guidelines (every journal has specific formatting requirements — read them before submitting).
Week 5: Submit. Most case report journals provide a decision within 4–8 weeks.
The entire process — from case identification to submission — can be completed in 5 weeks of part-time effort. Many students and juniors never publish simply because they think the process takes longer and is more complex than it actually is.
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