Rheuminations: The Humble Case Report Tells a Story

The answer is simple: Data can show us trends, but case reports show us nuance. They provide the granularity that large datasets often miss—the specific features of a disease that don’t fit neatly into a category, the unexpected patient response that defies statistical probabilities. They also allow for rapid dissemination of clinical insights that might take years to be confirmed in larger studies.

Moreover, case reports serve an important role in medical education. They train us to think critically, to approach each patient as a unique individual rather than a data point. They remind us that in medicine, the rare and the common coexist, and that a single observation—if thoughtfully documented—can influence practice in ways we might not anticipate.

Conclusion: Every Case Tells a Story

Harkening back to that ever-expanding city of medical literature, I hope I’ve convinced you to not just gaze at the beauty of skyscrapers and monuments built by well-known rheumatologists but to notice the humble homes made by teams of private practice rheumatologists, residents, fellows, medical students, interprofessional team members and more. These unassuming case reports are truly at the center of academic rheumatology, not because they offer definitive answers, but they invite us to ask provocative questions. They keep us engaged with the clinical puzzles that make our field so intellectually rewarding. They allow us to contribute to the collective knowledge of our specialty, even if we’re not running clinical trials or publishing large cohort studies.

So the next time you encounter a patient whose case challenges your assumptions or expands your understanding, consider writing it up, not because it’s rare or novel, but because it has a meaningful place in the shining city of medical literature.

Bharat Kumar, MD, MME, FACP, FAAAAI, RhMSUS, is the director of the rheumatology fellowship training program at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and the physician editor of The Rheumatologist. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @BharatKumarMD.

References

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3. Gagnier JJ, Kienle G, Altman DG, et al. The CARE guidelines: Consensus-based clinical case reporting guideline development. BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Oct 23;2013:bcr2013201554. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-201554. PMID: 24155002; PMCID: PMC3822203.