How to Write a Case Report Abstract: Structure, Word Limits and Annotated Examples
What CARE item 3 asks for, which abstract structure to choose, how to stay inside the word limit, and a fictional abstract annotated sentence by sentence.
- CARE item
- 3: four abstract elements
- Common format
- Background, Case presentation, Conclusions
- Write it
- Last, after the main text
- Must end with
- One take-away lesson
Quick answer
- Cover CARE item 3: what is unique, main symptoms and findings, diagnosis, intervention and outcome, and the take-away lesson.
- Use the journal’s format and word limit; JMCR uses Background, Case presentation and Conclusions, up to 350 words.
- Write it last and check every fact against the main text.
01Why the case report abstract matters
The case report abstract is often the only part of a case report that editors, reviewers and database users read in full. It shapes whether a manuscript is sent for review and whether readers open the full text. A strong abstract states why the case matters, summarises the essential clinical findings and ends with one clear take-away lesson [1, 3].
The CARE checklist sets out what the abstract should contain, and the journal’s instructions set its format and word limit. This guide explains the abstract structure, how to stay within the limit, and how both apply in an annotated example [2, 4].
02What the CARE checklist requires
Item 3 of the CARE checklist asks authors to summarise four elements in the abstract [1, 2]:
| CARE abstract element | What to include |
|---|---|
| Introduction | What is unique about the case and what it adds to the medical literature |
| Case presentation | The patient’s main symptoms and the important clinical findings |
| Diagnosis and intervention | The main diagnoses, therapeutic intervention and patient outcome |
| Conclusion | The main take-away lesson from the case |
Our CARE case report checklist covers the other 12 items.
03Choosing the abstract structure
Journals use different formats, so check the author instructions of the target journal before drafting [4]. Three formats are common:
- Structured, three headings: for example Background, Case presentation and Conclusions, the format the Journal of Medical Case Reports uses [4]. See our guide to preparing case reports for the Journal of Medical Case Reports.
- Structured, four or more headings: such as Introduction, Case presentation, Management and outcome, and Conclusion, mirroring the CARE elements [1].
- Unstructured: a single paragraph that still follows the CARE order without headings.
Whatever the format, keep the order logical: why the case matters, what happened, what was done, what resulted and what readers should learn. For a research-article comparison, see this structured abstract example.
04Working within word limits
Word limits for a case report abstract vary between journals, typically from about 150 to 350 words. The Journal of Medical Case Reports allows up to 350 words [4], the American Journal of Case Reports 250 words [5], and Cureus suggests roughly 150 to 250 [6]. Some journals replace the abstract with a much shorter key message, so the limit in the target journal’s current author instructions always takes precedence.
To fit the limit without losing content:
- Allocate words by section: give most space to the case presentation and keep the introduction and conclusion to one or two sentences each.
- Report only decisive findings: include the clinical findings and diagnostic assessment results that changed the diagnosis or management.
- Avoid unexplained abbreviations and citations: most journals discourage both in abstracts.
- Keep the abstract consistent with the main text: every fact in the abstract must appear in the manuscript, with the same values and terms [2].
05Annotated example
The example below is a fictional case written for teaching. It shows how each sentence maps to a CARE element [1, 2].
| Section | Example text (fictional) | Annotation |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Drug-induced aseptic meningitis is rare and easily mistaken for infection. We report a case linked to a commonly prescribed antibiotic. | States what is unusual and why it matters |
| Case presentation | A 34-year-old woman presented with fever, headache and neck stiffness two days after starting the antibiotic. Cerebrospinal fluid showed neutrophilic pleocytosis with negative cultures and PCR. | Main symptoms, timing and the decisive clinical findings |
| Management and outcome | The antibiotic was stopped and empirical treatment discontinued after negative results. Symptoms resolved within three days, with no recurrence at three-month follow-up. | Therapeutic intervention and patient outcome |
| Conclusions | Clinicians should consider drug-induced meningitis when symptoms follow a new prescription and microbiology is negative. | One practical take-away lesson |
06Common abstract errors
Editors return abstracts for the same avoidable reasons [2, 3]:
- Opening with general background instead of what makes the case unique.
- Listing every test rather than the decisive diagnostic assessment.
- Omitting the patient outcome or the follow-up period.
- Ending without a take-away lesson, or overstating it as a general treatment recommendation.
- Including identifying details such as exact dates, locations or a rare occupation; see pseudonymisation in case reports.
07Conclusion
An effective case report abstract follows the CARE checklist, respects the target journal’s word limit and leads to one clear take-away lesson. Draft it last, check every fact against the main text, and adapt the abstract structure to the journal before submission. The full sequence from consent to print is in our case report workflow.
Questions
How long should a case report abstract be?
Should a case report abstract be structured?
Can references be cited in a case report abstract?
When should the abstract be written?
References
- Gagnier JJ, Kienle G, Altman DG, Moher D, Sox H, Riley D; CARE Group. The CARE guidelines: consensus-based clinical case reporting guideline development. Glob Adv Health Med. 2013;2(5):38-43. https://doi.org/10.7453/gahmj.2013.008
- Riley DS, Barber MS, Kienle GS, et al. CARE guidelines for case reports: explanation and elaboration document. J Clin Epidemiol. 2017;89:218-235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.04.026
- International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Protection of research participants. In: Recommendations for the conduct, reporting, editing, and publication of scholarly work in medical journals. Accessed 7 November 2026. https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/protection-of-research-participants.html
- Journal of Medical Case Reports. Submission guidelines: preparing your manuscript, case report. BMC. Accessed 7 November 2026. https://jmedicalcasereports.biomedcentral.com/submission-guidelines/preparing-your-manuscript/case-report
- American Journal of Case Reports. Instructions for authors. Accessed 7 November 2026. https://amjcaserep.com/instructions
- Cureus. How to publish a medical case report. Cureus blog. Accessed 7 November 2026. https://blog.cureus.com/how-to-publish-a-medical-case-report
Update log
- Published by Pubrica
How to cite this article
Dr. Charlie. (2026, November 7). How to Write a Case Report Abstract: Structure, Word Limits and Annotated Examples. Pubrica. https://pubrica.com/academy/case-report-writing/how-to-write-case-report-abstract/
This article is general information for researchers, not legal, regulatory or funding advice. Check the current requirements of your journal, funder, ethics committee or regulator before you act on it.
