Case Reports: Contribution to Clinical Practice, Scholarly Education, and Scientific Knowledge

Case reports have been a method of scientific communication in the medical literature. Cases describing a clinical challenge faced by physicians and providing well-reasoned recommendations serve an important function in the clinical practice. Other values of case reports include generating clinical hypotheses and promoting scholarly education. They enhance critical thinking for practicing physicians, residents, and medical students. A case report can raise conceptual questions about particular clinical observation with the goal to generate a clinical hypothesis. This article highlights the value of case reports and describes their role in advancement of medicine with the intent to increase and improve case reporting.