title: The history of the case report: a selective review.
abstract: The clinical case report is a popular genre in medical writing. While authors and editors have debated the justification for the clinical case report, few have attempted to examine the long history of this genre in medical literature. By reviewing selected literature and presenting and discussing excerpts of clinical case reports from Egyptian antiquity to the 20th century, we illustrate the presence of the genre in medical science and how its form developed. Central features of the clinical case report in different time periods are discussed, including its main components, structure, style and author presence.
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, N-9038 Tromsø, Norway ; Division of General Psychiatry, University Hospital of North Norway, N-9291 Tromsø, Norway.
authors: Trygve
authors: T
authors: Nissen
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, N-9038 Tromsø, Norway ; Division of Addictions and Specialized Psychiatry, University Hospital of North Norway, N-9291 Tromsø, Norway.
authors: Rolf
authors: R
authors: Wynn
keywords: Galen; Hippocrates; clinical case report; genre; medical history