Presenting and publishing case reports

The educational value of case reports and the four main categories of information they include are described. Checklists and directions for effective spoken presentations are detailed, so the presenter knows not only the information the audience is likely to expect, but the techniques that will help convey the information. A typical case as it might be presented during rounds is shown with questions for discussion. Guidelines for writing case reports for publication also are included, such as journal selection, descriptions of the standard and nonstandard case formats, the content of the three main sections of the typical case report, and the directions that journal editors typically ask reviewers to follow.