Submitting Case Reports

Case reports are original observations related to patient care. Cases should increase awareness of a condition, suggest the proper diagnostic strategy, or demonstrate a more cost-effective approach to management. A case can represent an unusual presentation of a relatively common condition, include an unusual complication of a disease and its management, or be a rare condition not frequently seen. Authors should consider the message or lesson that the case can deliver to the journal’s readership.

KJM does not publish case report reviews/literature reviews or case series. 

CASE REPORT Submission Requirements

Submissions that do not include these requirements will be declined.

  • Cover Letter to the Editor
  • Main Document
    • Title Page
    • Abbreviations List
    • Main Text (1,500 words max)
    • References (30 max)
    • Keywords using MeSH terms from PubMed (5 max)
  • Tables/Figures when needed (3 combined max)
  • Permission to Use Documentation (if applicable)

Important Details For Each Requirement

Please review each section carefully. We cannot accept submissions that do not meet these requirements.

[+] Cover Letter to the Editor

Cover letter addressed to the Editor that includes the corresponding author’s name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address, and identifies the manuscript category (e.g., Original Research, Review, Case Report). The cover letter also should include a publishing statement confirming that the manuscript has not been previously published and is not under consideration by another journal. If this is not the case, please provide an explanation.

[+] Main Document

The main manuscript file must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document. The main text should be double-spaced and formatted in 12-point Times New Roman font, left-aligned, with 1-inch margins on all sides. Pages should be numbered consecutively in the footer, beginning with the title page as page 1. Use italics rather than underlining, except for URL addresses. Do not include line numbers. Avoid using double spaces between sentences or paragraphs. Paragraphs should be indented one-half inch. See Manuscript Preparation | Kansas Journal of Medicine for more detail. The main manuscript document should include the following:

[+] Title Page

The title page (page 1) should contain:

  • Title:  A concise and informative title.
  • Short Title:  An identified short running head.
  • Author Names & Affiliations:  The first name (spelled out), middle initial, and last name of each author with highest academic degree(s) and institutional affiliation. Medical student authors should be labeled based on their academic year (MS-1, MS-2, MS-3, MS-4).
  • Author Emails:  Email addresses of each author.
  • Institution Name:  The name of the department(s) and institution(s) to which the work is attributed.
  • Disclaimers:  Any disclaimer. If you have no official institutional or personal disclaimer to declare, you should explicitly state "None."
  • Corresponding Author:  Contact information for the corresponding author.
  • Support Disclosure:  The source(s) of support in the form of grants, equipment, and/or drugs. If the work described in the manuscript has been formally presented at a scientific meeting, provide the name of the organization, date, and location of the meeting.
  • AI Use Disclosure:  The Kansas Journal of Medicine encourages authors to appropriately use technology throughout the research process. Software that uses generative artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) may be used. However, it does not permit the inclusion of ML tools, such as ChatGPT, as authors. If any such tool is used to generate drafts of the submitted manuscript, it must be explicitly disclosed. Learn more about the Use of Artificial Intelligence for Authors on our Submissions page.
  • Acknowledgements:  One or more statements should specify (1) contributions that need acknowledging but do not justify authorship; (2) acknowledgments of technical help; (3) acknowledgments of financial and material support, specifying the nature of the support; and (4) financial relationships that may pose a conflict of interest (adapted from ICMJE).
  • Author Approval Statement:  A statement confirming that each author has reviewed and approved the content of the manuscript. For submissions with more than five authors, a statement outlining each author’s contributions to the manuscript is required.
[+] Abbreviations List

A list of abbreviations used in the manuscript should be provided on a separate page following the title page. Include abbreviations and spelled out meaning.

[+] Abstract

Case Reports do not require abstracts.

[+] Main Text

Manuscripts report on interesting and unusual clinical cases that provide insight into clinical practice and generate hypotheses for clinical research. The manuscript should include a review of past published relevant cases, a detailed description of the case or vignette, a discussion of why the case or vignette is unique and adds to past published literature, and implications for subsequent developments in clinical practice, teaching, or research. The Kansas Journal of Medicine limits Case Reports to a maximum of 1,500 words. This word count limit does not include the title page, references, or keywords.

[+] Introduction

Case reports begin with a short evidence-based introduction. This typically describes the context of the case and explains its relevance and importance.

[+] Case Report

Describe in sequence the history, physical examination, investigative studies, and the patient's progress and outcome. Be complete without obscuring the essence of the case with irrelevant details. Avoid the use of medical jargon and excessive reliance on abbreviations. Always spell out the abbreviations the first time they are mentioned.

[+] Discussion

Review the pertinent literature, why clinical decisions were made, and extract the lesson(s) from the case. Make a small number of teaching points in clear and succinct language.

[+] References

References must be formatted according to the guidelines found on the KJM References page.

Important highlights: Where available, PubMed ID (PMID) numbers for the references must be provided. If PMID numbers are not available, provide DOIs. In-text citations should be formatted using superscript Arabic numerals and listed in consecutive order, following punctuation in most cases. References should be listed in 11pt. font.

[+] Keywords

After the reference section, include 2-5 keywords or short phrases that will assist indexers in cross-indexing your article and that may be published with the abstract. Use only terms from the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) list of Index Medicus.

[+] Tables/Figures

For Case Reports, figures/images are limited to a maximum of three (3).

Figures and Images: Authors must submit high-quality figures and images that are visually clear, legible, and free of blurriness or distortion. Figures should be prepared in an editable format when incorporated into the Microsoft Word manuscript. Images also must be submitted as separate electronic files in one of the acceptable formats specified below.

Placement and Labeling: Cite each figure or image in the main text in consecutive order (e.g., Figure 1, Figure 2). Number figures according to their order of appearance in the text. Include a corresponding figure legend or caption for each figure or image. Keep text within figures to a minimum and define all symbols and abbreviations used. Submit figure and image captions separately from the figure or image files rather than embedding them within the figure or image. Each caption should include a brief title and description. Text added to figures or images should be in Times New Roman font.

Image Manipulation: No data within an image may be enhanced, obscured, moved, removed, or introduced through digital manipulation or generative artificial intelligence (AI). The use of touch-up tools or any feature that deliberately obscures alterations or manipulation is unacceptable. Any adjustment of contrast, brightness, or color must be applied equally to all parts of the entire image. Image files should be cropped as closely as possible to the actual image.

Image/Graphic Quality: The Kansas Journal of Medicine (KJM) requires normalized output that is high-resolution and of sufficient width and quality for archival publication. Images and graphics generated at low resolution for online display purposes are not acceptable. Color and black-and-white photographs or graphics must have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi to ensure clarity and legibility in both print and online formats. Acceptable file formats include TIFF, PNG, and high-quality JPEG. Authors must be prepared to submit the original, unaltered files from which submitted images were derived if requested by the editorial office.

Intended Display Size: Intended display size refers to the physical dimensions of a digital image or graphic as it will appear in the final published online PDF or print edition. For KJM, the intended display widths are as follows:

  • Single-column: 3.75 inches wide
  • Double-column: 7.7 inches wide

If the intended display size is uncertain, authors should calculate pixel dimensions using the larger width. Figures may be rejected if they are not submitted at or above their intended display size.

Pixel Dimension Calculation: Physical Size (inches) × Resolution (dpi) = Pixel Dimensions (px)

  • Single-Column Example (300 dpi): To span a single column at 3.75 inches wide, a 300 dpi image requires a minimum width of 1,125 pixels: 3.75 inches × 300 dpi = 1,125 pixels
  • Double-Column Example (300 dpi): To span a double column at 7.7 inches wide, a 300 dpi image requires a minimum width of 2,310 pixels: 7.7 inches × 300 dpi = 2,310 pixels
[+] Permission to Use Documentation (if applicable)

If appropriate, include a copy of the permission to reproduce previously published materials from the publisher or owner of the material; permission to use photographs of identifiable subjects; and permission for the use of personal communications with your submission.

The link below may provide guidance on writing case reports.

Review these resources prior to submission:

 

Last modified: September 9, 2026