Instructions for Authors

Comprehensive guidelines for preparing and submitting your clinical case report to JCCI.

JCCI publishes the following manuscript categories. Each has specific requirements for length and structure:

Requests for length exceptions: The limits above are intended to support clarity and an efficient peer-review process. If your manuscript exceeds these limits and reducing it would compromise the scientific meaning or completeness of the work, please contact the Editorial Office at [email protected] prior to submission to request guidance on a length exception.

Case reports should follow this structured format to ensure clinical clarity and reproducibility:

1. Title Page: Title, authors, affiliations, corresponding author contact, word count, keywords
2. Abstract: Structured with Background, Case Presentation, and Conclusions sections
3. Introduction: Clinical context and rationale for reporting this case
4. Case Presentation: Detailed chronological narrative including history, examination, investigations, treatment, and outcome
5. Discussion: Interpretation, comparison with literature, clinical implications
6. Conclusions: Key learning points and take-home messages
7. References: Vancouver style formatting
8. Figures and Tables: With descriptive legends

The title page should reflect the clinical focus of the report and list all contributors accurately. The abstract should summarize the key clinical problem, diagnostic approach, management, and outcomes in a structured format. Avoid abbreviations that are not standard in clinical practice.

• Include a short, informative title that reflects the key learning point.
• List author affiliations and ORCID identifiers where available.
• Provide 3 to 5 keywords that support indexing and search visibility.
• Ensure the abstract aligns with the case narrative and conclusions.

A strong case presentation is chronological, clinically focused, and complete. Provide enough detail for clinicians to understand the diagnostic reasoning and treatment decisions, but avoid unnecessary repetition.

• Describe the presenting complaint, relevant history, and physical findings.
• Include key laboratory, imaging, and pathology results with dates where applicable.
• Explain differential diagnoses and why specific tests were selected.
• Detail treatments, response, complications, and follow up outcomes.

The discussion should place the case in the context of current literature and explain why it matters for clinical practice. Focus on patient outcomes, diagnostic reasoning, and decision making rather than speculation.

• Compare findings to published cases or guidelines.
• Explain the clinical implications and potential changes to practice.
• Summarize clear learning points for clinicians and trainees.

Please prepare your manuscript in clear, concise language. Use standard medical terminology and define uncommon abbreviations at first use.

• File format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)
• Font: 12-point, standard serif or sans serif
• Line spacing: Double spaced
• Page numbers required
• Figures submitted as separate high resolution files

Write in professional clinical language and avoid promotional tone. Use patient first language and ensure that clinical terminology is precise. If English is not your first language, consider editorial support before submission.

Images are a core feature of JCCI. All figures should be high resolution (minimum 300 DPI) and accompanied by clear legends that explain clinical significance. Radiology images should include arrows or labels where appropriate, and pathology images should specify magnification and staining.

• Accepted formats: TIFF, JPEG, PNG
• Remove identifying features and ensure patient privacy
• Use consistent labeling across all figures

Authors must have permission to publish all images, including those obtained from third parties. If images are adapted or reused, provide written permission and cite the source. Patient identifiable images require explicit consent for publication.

Ethical compliance is essential. Authors must obtain patient consent for publication of case details and images. If consent cannot be obtained, provide a clear explanation and ensure that no identifying information is included.

• Include a patient consent statement in the manuscript
• Provide IRB approval details when required
• Disclose conflicts of interest and funding sources

Remove names, dates of birth, and other identifiers that could reveal patient identity. When describing rare conditions, avoid overly specific details that could allow recognition. If data sharing is required, follow applicable privacy regulations and institutional policies.

JCCI follows COPE guidance for ethical publishing. Submissions must be original and not under consideration by any other journal. Any overlap with previous work must be disclosed and justified.

JCCI encourages adherence to recognized reporting standards to improve transparency and reproducibility. For case reports and case series, authors should follow the CARE checklist.

• CARE guidelines for case reports and case series
• Structured abstracts where applicable
• Clear outcome reporting and follow up details

Supplementary files may be submitted when they provide additional clinical detail, imaging series, or procedural information that cannot fit in the main manuscript. Each file should be labeled clearly and referenced in the text.

Use Vancouver style reference formatting. Ensure that all citations are accurate and complete. References should support clinical statements and comparisons made in the discussion.

• Manuscript file with title page and abstract
• Patient consent statement and ethical approvals where needed
• High resolution figures and tables with legends
• Cover letter summarizing the clinical significance
• Conflict of interest and funding disclosures

A strong cover letter helps editors quickly assess scope fit and clinical relevance. Briefly explain why the case is important, what makes it unique, and how it adds to existing literature.

• Summarize the key learning point in one or two sentences.
• State whether the case is rare, educational, or highlights a new diagnostic approach.
• Confirm that patient consent has been obtained.
• Disclose any prior presentation or abstract submission.

Submit your manuscript via the online submission system or the quick submission form. You will receive an acknowledgment within 72 hours. Please ensure all files are clearly labeled and complete.

• ManuscriptZone: https://oap.manuscriptzone.net
• Submission form: https://openaccesspub.org/manuscript-submission-form

JCCI uses single-blind peer review. Reviewers evaluate clinical relevance, clarity, and ethical compliance. Authors may be asked to revise their manuscript based on reviewer comments. We encourage timely responses to support efficient publication timelines. Expect an initial decision within several weeks.

Accepted manuscripts proceed to copyediting, proof review, and publication. Authors receive proofs for final review, and the final article is published with a DOI. Open access publication ensures immediate visibility for clinicians, educators, and researchers.

When revisions are requested, provide a point by point response to reviewer comments. After acceptance, you will receive proofs for final review. Please check carefully for accuracy in clinical details, images, and references.

All listed authors must meet authorship criteria and approve the final manuscript. Provide a description of each authors contribution, including clinical care, data analysis, manuscript writing, and supervision. Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.

• Confirm that all authors reviewed and approved the final version.
• List specific contributions such as data collection, imaging interpretation, or manuscript drafting.
• Identify a corresponding author responsible for communication with the journal.

JCCI does not accept duplicate submissions or plagiarized content. Manuscripts are screened for originality. If significant overlap is detected, the submission may be rejected.

Authors who have shared preliminary findings through institutional repositories or conference abstracts should disclose this at submission. Full manuscripts should offer substantial new content beyond any prior public posting.

JCCI is an open access journal supported by Article Processing Charges. Waiver and discount options are available for eligible authors. Please review the APC page for current rates and waiver criteria.

If English language clarity limits interpretation, consider using the Language Editing Service. Clear writing improves the review process and helps clinicians apply the findings.

Last updated: January 2026.