Steps to Publishing a Case Report
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A patient with an interesting condition presents to you.
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Identify a "take-home" message or teaching point from the case. Why is this case important?
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Choose a journal appropriate for publishing the case report.
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Obtain the journal's "guidelines for authors."
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Identify a Mentor to help you with the case
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Perform a literature search of journals, textbooks, and electronic media.
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Compile all source articles in a file.
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Assign a reference number to each source in the order obtained and write this number in the right upper corner of each article's front page.
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Write up the case and discussion in the required format using assigned reference numbers to identify sources of information.
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When the article is finalized, renumber sources in order as they appear in the paper.
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Mail to the journal your manuscript with cover letter providing correspondence address, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address.
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If the article is not accepted by the journal, obtain reviewers' comments.
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Revise paper using reviewers' comments and the guidelines for authors of another appropriate journal.
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Submit article to the second journal.
Adapted from Brodell RT: Do more than discuss that unusual case: Write it up. Postgrad Med 2000., 108(2):
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