Evolution of the CARE Guidelines for case reports

Abstract

The clinical case report has been a longstanding element within medicine, serving to communicate unusual clinical events, adverse effects, or the innovative use of therapeutic interventions. Within observational research, it constitutes the starting point for the generation of hypotheses. Its scientific utility, however, has depended on the precision, transparency, and completeness of its reporting. The development of the CAse REport (CARE) guidelines in 2013, followed by their detailed version in 2017, represented a consensus effort to standardise its presentation, enabling a structured document that conveys routine clinical practice and supports subsequent research. More recently, methodological expansion has taken form through specialised extensions, including the 2023 Surgical CAse REport (SCARE) guidelines for surgery and the 2024 CARE-Radiology guidelines focused on imaging. This article seeks to present and examine the significance of this progression, emphasising how the methodological discipline introduced by these guidelines positions the case report as a useful tool for clinical work and for research.