Submitting a Case Report Manuscript

Publishing a case report requires careful preparation of the manuscript and thoughtful selection of an appropriate journal. In preparation for submission, authors should identify the target audience. An important factor to consider is which type of clinician is most likely to see the patient in their daily practice. This determination helps the author focus on either a generalist or subspecialty journal. Authors should identify journals that have a track record of publishing case reports, then send a presubmission inquiry to the editor to gauge interest in the proposed case report. Formatting the manuscript to meet the target journal’s specifications is critical; a poorly formatted submission may result in immediate rejection. This chapter presents guidance to help authors successfully navigate the submission process.