Author Guidelines

  • Author Guidelines

Editorial Policy

International journal of medical case reports strives to publish case reports and case reviews related to various specialties as well as subspecialties of medicine. It emphasizes the publication of evidence-based medicine in a rapidly evolving scenario. case reports, case series, case reviews and short communications will be accepted for publication provided that they conform to the scope of the journal and successfully pass the editorial as well as the double-blind peer-review process. Manuscripts being submitted to IJOMCR must be original and unpublished anywhere in past and should not be under consideration for publication by any journal anywhere else. Plagiarised papers, as well as salami publications, will be summarily rejected.

International journal of medical case reportsvwants their authors to go through Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals," as cited in N. Engl. J. Med., 1997, 336: 309-15. These requirements ensure that the medical publications globally conform to the highest standards of publication and is available at http://www.icmje.org

 

Manuscript Submission

All manuscripts submitted to the International journal of medical case reports must be accompanied by a covering letter which must clearly state the type of paper i.e, case report, case reviews or case series.  The covering letter should also contain a statement stating that all contributing authors have gone through the final contents of the paper and approved the final draft of the paper. 

Every paper must also be accompanied by a copyright transfer form as given on the website of the journal. The copyright transfer form essentially seeks to transfer all copyright ownership to journals of medical and clinical research. It has to be signed by corresponding author who on behalf of him/herself as well all other authors undertake and agree to transfer all copyrights to IJOMCR. 

 

IJOMCR accepts the following forms of manuscript 

Case reports

Case Series

Cse Reviews

Review articles

Short/Brief communications

 

Review Procedure

Every paper submitted for consideration to be published in the International journal of medical case reports will pass through various processes that include plagiarism check, editorial review, and double-blind peer review. The peer-review process is described on the website of the journal.

General Requirements

Manuscripts that are in English are only accepted for publication in IJOMCR and manuscripts in any language other than English will not be considered or further processed.
The paper should preferably be typed using Microsoft word and an A4 layout should be used. A margin of at least 3.5 cms should be kept from all sides. Times new roman font should be used and font size should be 12. There should be double spacing between lines.

 

Ensure following things before submitting a case report to international journal of medical case reports.

 

Review Journal Requirements: Begin by thoroughly reading the author guidelines provided by the PubMed indexed medical journal you're interested in. Familiarize yourself with the specific formatting, structure, and ethical considerations they expect for case report submissions.

 

Title and Abstract: Craft a clear and concise title that accurately reflects the case's essence. Write an informative abstract that summarizes the case's background, presentation, interventions, and outcomes succinctly.

 

Introduction: Provide a brief introduction explaining the significance of the case and its relevance to current medical knowledge. State the objective of your report and briefly highlight the uniqueness of the case.

 

Case Presentation: Describe the patient's history, initial presentation, and any relevant physical examination findings. Include pertinent laboratory results, imaging data, and diagnostic procedures. Ensure chronological order and clarity in presenting information.

 

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Interventions: Detail the diagnostic process, outlining the reasoning behind each step. Describe the treatment plan, including medications, surgeries, or other interventions. Justify your decisions with evidence-based references where applicable.

 

Outcome: Present the patient's progress and outcome of interventions. Discuss any complications, unexpected results, or challenges faced during the treatment. Include follow-up data and any long-term effects.

 

Discussion: Analyze the case within the context of existing medical literature. Compare and contrast your findings with similar cases previously reported. Highlight what makes your case unique or contributes to medical knowledge. Address potential limitations and biases.

 

Conclusion: Summarize the key takeaways from the case and its implications for clinical practice. Emphasize any lessons learned or insights gained.

 

Ethical Considerations: Ensure you have obtained informed consent from the patient or their legal guardian before submitting the case report. Anonymize the patient's information to protect confidentiality.

 

References: Compile a comprehensive list of all references cited in your case report, adhering to the journal's preferred citation style.

 

Formatting and Style: Follow the journal's formatting guidelines for fonts, margins, headings, and other stylistic aspects. Use consistent terminology throughout the report.

 

Figures and Images: If applicable, include high-quality images, graphs, or charts that enhance the understanding of the case. Ensure proper labeling and accurate depiction.

 

Proofreading: Thoroughly proofread your case report for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and clarity. Consider seeking feedback from colleagues before submission.

 

Authorship and Acknowledgments: Clearly define the contributions of each author and acknowledge any individuals or institutions that provided support, resources, or assistance during the case report preparation.

 

Submission: Follow the journal's submission process, which may involve uploading your case report, abstract, cover letter, and any additional materials through an online submission system. 

Abbreviations and symbols:-

Do not use abbreviations except for units of measurements. If at all abbreviations are used then they must be used in the CBE style manual. When exhaustive terminology needs to be used repeatedly then its first use should be full name followed by the abbreviation in brackets which then can be repeated in the ensuing article. 

Drug names: 

International journal of medical case reportsdiscourages the use of brand names of any drug and generic names must be used unless different brands of a drug are being compared in a study in which case brand names can be used. 

 Tables:- 

Tables must be made in Microsoft word and images of tables are not desirable. Each table must be cited in the text at the appropriate place. One common mistake which needs to be avoided is that the content of the table should not be described in text rather supplement the text. The titles of tables should be brief, informative, and precise. Statistical data such as, mean. Standard deviation and p values should be incorporated into the tables whenever necessary.

Illustrations:-

One of the most important parts of any paper is its illustrations and images. It is particularly important in cases of research papers dealing with imaging. The illustration should be of high quality and proper arrow marks must be placed in cases wherever necessary. Legends of all images, as well as illustrations, must be brief, informative, and precise. There must not be a repetition of illustration data into text and vice versa. 

All illustrations, as well as images, must be cited in the text at appropriate places. All images and illustrations will become the property of the journal upon its submission.

Submission Format:- 

Case Series/Case Report/Brief communication: Maximum 1500 words excluding title page and abstract. The abstract should be unstructured and must not exceed 150 words. Minimum 4 keywords should be included after the abstract. The total number of tables and figures usually should be limited to 3. A maximum of 10 references should be given.   

Sections of Paper:-

Case Report :- (1) Title Page (2)Unstructured Abstract (3) Introduction (4)Case Report (5) Discussion (6) Conclusion (7) References.

Brief communication :- (1) Title Page (2)Unstructured Abstract (3) Introduction (4)Case Report (5) Discussion (6) Conclusion (7) References.

 

Policy on Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools for Authors

  1. Introduction

Our journal recognizes that generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI Tools”) can support authors in research, writing, and presentation of medical case reports when used responsibly. AI tools can assist in language editing, summarizing background literature, improving structure, and enhancing readability.

However, AI tools must never replace human expertise, judgment, or interpretation. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all content submitted for publication.

 

  1. Author Accountability

Authors are personally accountable for the entire manuscript content, including any sections generated or assisted by AI tools. They must:

  • Critically review and verify all AI-generated or AI-assisted material for accuracy, factual correctness, and impartiality.
  • Ensure references and citations are genuine, verifiable, and not fabricated by AI.
  • Adapt, edit, and refine AI outputs to represent their own analysis, reasoning, and interpretation.
  • Confirm that data privacy and patient confidentiality are not violated when using AI tools.
  • Acknowledge the use of AI tools transparently at submission.

 

  1. Responsible Use of AI Tools

When using AI tools, authors must:

  • Review the terms of service of any AI tool to confirm data entered is not stored or used to train external models.
  • Avoid uploading unpublished case details, identifiable patient data, or confidential manuscripts.
  • Avoid generating images, figures, or diagrams using AI that depict real patients, copyrighted material, or identifiable individuals.
  • Check all AI-generated content for bias, inaccuracies, or ethical concerns before inclusion.

 

  1. Disclosure and Transparency

All authors must disclose any AI tool used in manuscript preparation in a dedicated “AI Use Declaration” section at the end of the manuscript. This declaration should mention:

  • The name of the tool (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly, Bing Copilot, etc.),
  • The purpose of use (e.g., grammar editing, reference formatting, draft organization, summarizing background literature),
  • The extent of human oversight and verification.

Simple grammar, spelling, or reference-formatting assistance need not be declared.
However, AI use for drafting, summarizing, data interpretation, or content generation must be declared.

 

  1. Authorship

AI tools cannot be credited as authors or co-authors. Authorship requires human responsibility and accountability for the scientific validity and ethical integrity of the manuscript.
All listed authors must:

  • Review and approve the final version,
  • Take full responsibility for content accuracy,
  • Be accountable for investigation and correction of any error post-publication.

 

  1. Figures, Images, and Illustrations

The use of AI-generated or AI-modified images in submitted case reports is not permitted unless AI-based imaging forms part of the study methodology (e.g., diagnostic AI models in radiology).

If such AI-based imaging is part of the research design, authors must:

  • Describe in the Methods section how the AI tool was used,
  • Mention the tool name, version, and manufacturer,
  • Provide original, unaltered images on editorial request.

AI-generated artistic images, cover art, or illustrative figures are not permitted unless approved in advance by the editorial board.

 

  1. Data Confidentiality

Authors must ensure that AI use complies with data protection, intellectual property, and patient privacy standards.
They must not enter patient identifiers, hospital details, or unpublished data into AI tools. Violations may result in manuscript rejection or retraction.

 

  1. Editorial Oversight and Peer Review

Peer reviewers and editors are not permitted to upload submitted manuscripts into public AI tools for review, critique, or summarization, as this breaches author confidentiality.
All editorial AI assistance used (for plagiarism screening, language checks, or reviewer matching) will be in-house and privacy-compliant.

 

  1. Editorial Decision and Policy Rationale

The editorial team understands that AI-detection tools currently lack scientific validation. No AI detector claims 100% sensitivity or specificity.
Therefore, the presence of AI-generated text is not, by itself, a reason for rejection.

Editorial decisions are based on scientific validity, originality, patient confidentiality, and adherence to evidence-based medicine.
Manuscripts demonstrating sound methodology, accurate reporting, and ethical compliance will be considered regardless of AI assistance.

 

  1. Summary of What Is Allowed and Not Allowed

Aspect

Allowed

Not Allowed

Language editing (grammar, clarity)

Yes, no disclosure needed

—

Idea generation / structure support

Allowed with disclosure

Using AI output without verification

Reference formatting

Allowed

Fake or unverifiable citations

Image enhancement (brightness/contrast only)

Minor adjustments

 AI-generated or altered medical images

AI-generated text

Allowed with human review and declaration

 Unverified or plagiarized AI output

AI as author or co-author

Not allowed

—

Uploading patient data into AI

Strictly prohibited

—

AI use disclosure

Mandatory for drafting, summarization, or idea generation

 Omission of significant AI use

 

Final Statement

Our journal encourages responsible use of AI as a tool to support but not replace human expertise.
We do not reject manuscripts solely based on AI detection results, recognizing the limitations of current detectors.
Editorial decisions will always rest on whether the manuscript aligns with principles of evidence-based medicine, ethical integrity, and scientific accuracy.