BioMed Central is once again publishing the Journal of Medical Case Reports (JMCR) and Cases Journal. Since their inception both these journals, which currently provide over 2000 freely accessible case reports, have received widespread recognition and high quality submissions from across the medical community.  Through their innovative approach, both these journals make each individual patient’s case a valuable addition to medical literature.

Journal of Medical Case Reports, edited by Professor Michael Kidd, has published many landmark clinical cases across all areas of medicine including cancer, ophthalmology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases and musculoskeletal disorders. These cases can often serve as early warning signals for the adverse effects of new medications, or the presentations of new and emerging diseases.

Cases Journal, which is edited by former BMJ Editor (and regular Guardian columnist) Richard Smith, will look to complete the scientific record for future generations by publishing any report that is understandable, ethical, authentic, and includes all information essential to its interpretation.

Over the past few years, authors have submitted case reports to these journals from countries as far afield as Nepal and Iran. This once again signifies the inherent value that case reports have to improving clinical practice globally and also the increasing power of the Internet to allow for the widespread sharing of knowledge and thus the advancement of the understanding and treatment of diseases.

Both journals are open for submission to medical professionals on case reports of medicine, and will undergo rapid peer review. To find out more on how to submit a case report, please take a look at our instructions for authors and our peer review policies. We also encourage patients to contribute to the case report by adding a ‘Patient’s perspective’.

Miriam Kingsley
In-house Editor – Journal of Medical Case Reports/Cases Journal