The Clinical Picture
Purpose: This series uses a visual image to illustrate a clinical point relevant to general internists, hospitalists, and community cardiologists. The focus is NOT on rare conditions or findings. The discussion must include a clearly stated clinical teaching point. And the discussion must include the differential diagnosis, as well as clues to the correct diagnosis seen in the patient's presentation.
Before submitting a manuscript, please contact CCJM editorial staff to make sure the topic fits the Journal's mission, and to make sure that a similar article is not already under consideration.
Format: The text should be brief, about 500 words, with about 5 key references.
Content: The article must include a clinical lesson, not just describe the image. The article should also discuss the differential diagnosis and should include a section on clues to the correct diagnosis that were seen in the patient's presentation. The case presentation should be brief but should portray an accurate description. The goal is not to have "hidden" information, but the initial description should not indicate the explanation of the image. All laboratory values should include reference ranges.
Images: Images must be of publishable quality and should meet the specifications outline in "Tables, figures, and digital images" on our General Instructions page. Images in which the patient can be identified should be avoided. But if considered necessary, they must be accompanied by a permission-to-publish form signed by the patient.
Authorship: Every person listed as an author must have contributed substantially to the paper according to the authorship criteria of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. The criteria are as follows:
- Each author listed must have contributed to the conception or design of the paper, or to the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data.
- Each author listed must have participated in drafting the paper or revising it critically for important intellectual content.
- Each author listed must have given final approval of the version to be published.
- Each author listed must have agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the paper, ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part are appropriately investigated and resolved.
Example of The Clinical Picture article.