Akers, Katherine G.

Shidham, Vinod B.

English

Digital Commons@Wayne State University

Wayne State UniversityLibrary Scholarly Publications Wayne State University Libraries7-27-2016CytoJournalQuiz Cases: Publishing Open-Access,PubMed-Searchable Cytopathology Cases withEducational MessagesKatherine G. AkersWayne State University, katherine.akers@wayne.eduVinod B. ShidhamWayne State University, vshidham@med.wayne.eduThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Wayne State University Libraries at DigitalCommons@WayneState. It has been acceptedfor inclusion in Library Scholarly Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@WayneState.Recommended CitationAkers KG, Shidman VB. CytoJournal Quiz Cases: Publishing open-access, PubMed-searchable cytopathology cases with educationalmessages. CytoJournal 2016;13:15. doi: 10.4103/1742-6413.187015Available at: http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/libsp/123Vol 12 / Issue 1 / Jan-Mar 2015®Impact Factor  for 2012:1.2CYTOJOURNAL2004-2013DecadeCelebration1EditorialCytoJournal Quiz Cases: Publishing open‑access, PubMed‑searchable cytopathology cases with educational messagesKatherine G. Akers, Vinod B. Shidman1*Address: Shiffman Medical Library, Wayne State University, 1Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USAE‑mail: Katherine G. Akers ‑ katherine.akers@wayne.edu; Vinod B. Shidman* ‑ vshidham@med.wayne.edu *Corresponding authorreports are uncontrolled and often describe only a single patient, they cannot provide evidence of causality and do not produce generalizable knowledge. Case reports that describe rare occurrences may not be useful to most practitioners,[6] and some believe that case reports can even cause harm by drawing attention to extremely unusual circumstances.[7,8] Furthermore, case reports are not frequently cited in the literature,[9] which reduces the impact factors of the journals in which they are published. Considerations such as these have led some journals to cease publishing case reports altogether or to severely restrict the number of case reports per issue.Emerging from the debate over the value of case reports, however, is the consensus that case reports still do serve a purpose in an evidence‑based medicine world.[10] In particular, case reports are increasingly seen as having educational value,[11,12] giving readers a chance to encounter different clinical scenarios and reflect upon their own decision‑making and practice. Reading case reports can help physicians develop the “pattern recognition” skills[13] necessary for distinguishing between conditions with similar presentations, avoiding diagnostic pitfalls, recognizing unusual disease courses, or identifying unexpected outcomes of a treatment. Although case reports are not frequently cited, they can be among the most highly read articles in a journal because they are short and entertaining, with benefits comparable to a storytelling approach.[14,15] Moreover, writing a case report is a relatively quick and easy way for young healthcare professionals to begin engaging in scholarship and to meet growing expectations to publish.[16,17] Therefore, Since at least the era of Hippocrates and perhaps as far back as Ancient Egypt,[1] case reports have been an important form of medical communication. Traditionally, case reports are descriptions of unusual or novel clinical occurrences detailing the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and/or outcomes of individual patients. Case reports have been essential for disseminating new pieces of medical knowledge, such as the recognition of new diseases, diagnostic challenges, the detection of adverse drug effects, and the discovery of previously unknown associations between conditions. For instance, case reports were vehicles for the first descriptions of histopathological abnormalities in the brain of a woman with dementia, later known as Alzheimer’s disease;[2] the presence of Kaposi’s sarcoma and immunoregulatory defects in homosexual men, now recognized as features of AIDS;[3] and recently, the occurrence of fetal microcephaly in a pregnant woman infected with Zika virus.[4]Over the last several decades, however, the value of case reports has been questioned. With the rise of evidence‑based medicine, case reports have been relegated to the bottom of the hierarchy of evidence.[5] Because case Received: 15 May 2016Accepted: 16 May 2016Published: 27 Jul 2016 CytoJournal 2016, 13:15 This article is available from: http://www.cytojournal.com/content/13/1/15 © 2016 Akers and Shidman: Licensee Cytopathology Foundation Inc.This article may be cited as: Akers KG, Shidman VB. CytoJournal Quiz Cases: Publishing open-access, PubMed-searchable cytopathology cases with educational messages. CytoJournal 2016;13:15.CytoJournal Co‑editors‑in‑chief:Lester J. Layfield, MD, (University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA)Vinod B. Shidham, MD, FIAC, FRCPath (WSU School of Medicine, Detroit, USA)Executive editor:Vinod B. Shidham,MD, FIAC, FRCPath Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USAFor entire Editorial Board visit : http://www.cytojournal.com/cptext/eb.pdfPDFs FREE for Members (visit http://www.cytojournal.com/CFMember.asp)OPEN ACCESS HTML formatAccess this article onlineQuick Response Code:Website:www.cytojournal.comDOI:10.4103/1742-6413.1870152CytoJournal 2016, 13:15 http://www.cytojournal.com/content/13/1/15 CytoJournal 2016, 13:15 http://www.cytojournal.com/content/13/1/15in response to the changing status of case reports in medical publishing, new journals have launched that exclusively publish case reports,[18] and the format of some journals’ case reports has been adapted to emphasize their educational value.[5]INTRODUCING CYTOJOURNAL QUIZ CASESCytoJournal continues to publish case reports describing rare phenomena or clinical associations. However, it recently introduced a new type of article  –  the Quiz Case – that presents any clinical case, including relatively common cases, in a quiz format to directly communicate its teaching points. CytoJournal encourages Quiz Case submissions that describe solutions to confusing diagnostic situations or that highlight diagnostic “pitfalls,” which serve to remind readers about the cytopathological characteristics of particular diseases or the diagnostic utility of certain cytological techniques. CytoJournal expects that Quiz Cases will not be restricted to only extremely unusual clinical situations. In fact, because cases that are extremely rare may not have much educational value,[19] CytoJournal prefers Quiz Case articles that describe any case with an educational message that is relevant to a broad readership. If you have an interesting case that is not particularly novel but that has clear teaching points, CytoJournal encourages you to submit it as a Quiz Case rather than a case report. Likewise, upon receiving a case report submission, CytoJournal editors may ask authors to reformat and resubmit the manuscript as a Quiz Case. To ensure their integrity and quality, Quiz Case submissions go through a modified peer review process usually performed by the members of the CytoJournal Quiz Case section team prior to the editorial decision.WRITING A QUIZ CASE ARTICLECytoJournal Quiz Cases are structured differently than regular case reports. First, the patient’s clinical history and representative cytological images are presented, followed by a challenging multiple‑choice quiz question related to the primary teaching message. Next, an answer to the quiz question is provided along with a brief discussion of the issue and any important patient follow‑up information. Finally, three to four additional multiple‑choice quiz questions related to the topic are presented, followed by their answers and a brief review of the overall topic. To aid in the preparation of a Quiz Case, CytoJournal encourages prospective authors to consult previously published Quiz Cases.[20‑22] To help prospective authors understand the layout and length of the text in each Quiz Case section and on each page, CytoJournal provides a Quiz Case article template (http:// www.cytoJournal.com/downloads/104h_CytoJournal_Quiz_Case_Blank_Template.pdf). Screen shots of individual pages of the blank CytoJournal Quiz Case article template with approximate word counts for each segment are shown in Figures 1‑3. Additional guidance is provided in the “Author corner” of the CytoJournal webpage  (http://www.cytoJournal.com/contributors.asp).Topic selectionBefore beginning to write your Quiz Case, think about the purpose of your article and why readers would benefit from reading it.[23] Pick a case that serves as a valuable reminder of a useful cytological technique, how to distinguish between two similar conditions or diseases, or how to arrive at an accurate diagnosis under confusing circumstances.TitleCome up with a title for your Quiz Case as a last step, after you have written the body of the manuscript. Choose a title that is descriptive or informative rather than clever or Figure 1: Layout of first page for the final PDF of CytoJournal Quiz Cases (http://www.cytojournal.com/downloads/104h_CytoJournal_Quiz_Case_Blank_Template.pdf)3CytoJournal 2016, 13:15 http://www.cytojournal.com/content/13/1/15 CytoJournal 2016, 13:15 http://www.cytojournal.com/content/13/1/15cute to avoid confusing readers. It is often appropriate to include the phrases “a case of” or “a patient” in the title so that potential readers will know that you are describing a single patient before consulting the main text. To preserve the mystery of your Quiz Case, make sure that the title does not give away the answers to your quiz questions, but strive to generate thought‑provoking curiosity related to your topic.AuthorsDespite a trend toward an increasing number of authors of articles in medical journals,[24] Quiz Cases should generally have no more than 3–4 authors, without including every person involved in managing the patient. According to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors,[25] authorship should be reserved for individuals who make a substantial contribution to the conception or design of the work or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of the data; who make an intellectual contribution to the drafting or revision of the manuscript; who approve of the final version of the manuscript; and who agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.Introductory detailsQuiz Cases start with relevant patient clinical history together with cytomorphological findings reflected in high‑quality, self‑explanatory images. Because the description of clinical history is very brief (i.e., 70 words or 450 characters maximum), only the most pertinent details should be included. If additional information is required, it may be provided in a later section on the next page of the article. A single figure, which can consist of multiple panels of cytological images (e.g., low and high magnification with arrows and appropriate labeling, different stains), is presented below the clinical history and is accompanied by a figure caption explaining the content of the images. Please note that if you wish to use a previously published image, you must obtain permission from the original publisher  (or for open access articles, please assign due credit to the copyright holder by citing all reference details about the original publication) before the submission of your Quiz Case. Together, the description of the patient’s clinical history and the figure should provide enough information to allow readers to reasonably reach a conclusion and Figure 2: Layout of second page for the final PDF of CytoJournal Quiz Cases (http://www.cytojournal.com/downloads/104h_CytoJournal_Quiz_Case_Blank_Template.pdf)Figure 3: Layout of pages after second page for the final PDF of CytoJournal Quiz Cases (http://www.cytojournal.com/downloads/104h_CytoJournal_Quiz_Case_Blank_Template.pdf)4CytoJournal 2016, 13:15 http://www.cytojournal.com/content/13/1/15 CytoJournal 2016, 13:15 http://www.cytojournal.com/content/13/1/15facilitate the correct selection of the answer to the quiz question.Quiz questionsWe ask that you prepare a total of four to five quiz questions. The first quiz question, usually worded “What is your interpretation?” or a comparable question pertaining to the patient’s diagnosis, appears on the first page of the article after the description of the patient’s clinical history and initial cytopathological findings. The other three to four quiz questions, which appear on the next page of the article, test readers’ further knowledge on the topic. All quiz questions should be in multiple‑choice format, consisting of a lead‑in question followed by four to five options  (i.e.,  one correct answer and three to four thought‑provoking distractors). Formulate quiz questions that focus on important pieces of knowledge or concepts that can be clinically applied rather than trivial facts. For further guidance on how to write good multiple‑choice questions, consult the National Board of Medical Examiners’ manual for “Constructing Written Test Questions for the Basic and Clinical Sciences,”[26] which is available for free online.Answer to quiz questions and brief discussionThe answers to the quiz questions appear on the pages immediately following the questions so that readers cannot see the answers until testing their knowledge. After disclosing the correct answers, provide a brief discussion of the issues, relying on previously published literature.Patient follow‑up informationAfter discussing the answer to the first quiz question, patient follow‑up information can be provided, including the results of additional relevant diagnostic tests and a description of the treatment strategy and patient outcomes. Additional figures can be included if they add to the educational value of the case. When describing your single patient, avoid making generalizations or inferences; instead, simply state the facts.Brief review of the topicThe goal of the final part of the article is to synthesize existing knowledge of a condition or disease while highlighting its unique cytopathological features and appropriate diagnostic techniques. For example, you could provide an overview of a particular condition or disease, its clinical presentation and common co‑morbidities, common pitfalls during cytopathological evaluation and interpretation, tips for differential diagnosis, and/or its prognosis and usual treatments. Additional figures (e.g., images, diagrams, algorithms) or tables can be included. An optional “Summary” (not “Conclusion”) section could be used to reiterate the teaching points arising from your case and to suggest opportunities for further research or development of new diagnostic techniques.SUMMARYAlthough your Quiz Case will undoubtedly contain multiple teaching points, try to keep those teaching points centered on one topic, and do your best to convey a single educational message so that readers come away with a clear idea of how to recognize and respond to a similar clinical situation in their own practice. Your initiative to submit a Quiz Case to CytoJournal may result in a high‑impact contribution to medical education that is indexed in the major biomedical database PubMed  (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed), thereby improving global health services in cytopathology with a wide dissemination through CytoJournal’s open access charter. CytoJournal looks forward to receiving your Quiz Case submissions.COMPETING INTERESTS STATEMENT BY ALL AUTHORSThe authors declare no competing interests.AUTHORSHIP STATEMENT BY ALL AUTHORSKGA and VBS wrote the manuscript.ETHICS STATEMENT BY ALL AUTHORSThis editorial was not subject to ethical board approval.LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS  (In alphabetic order)None.REFERENCES1. Nissen T, Wynn R. The history of the case report: A selective review. J R Soc Med 2014;5:1-5.2. Alzheimer A. Uber eine eigenartige Erkrankung der Hirnrinde. Allg Z Psychiatr Phychish Gerichtliche Med 1907;64:146-8.3. Gottlieb GJ, Ragaz A, Vogel JV, Friedman-Kien A, Rywlin AM, Weiner EA, et al. A preliminary communication on extensively disseminated Kaposi’s sarcoma in young homosexual men. Am J Dermatopathol 1981;3:111‑4.4. Mlakar J, Korva M, Tul N, Popovic M, Poljšak-Prijatelj M, Mraz J, et al. Zika virus associated with microcephaly. N Engl J Med 2016;374:951-8.5. Nissen T, Wynn R. The recent history of the clinical case report: A narrative review. JRSM Short Rep 2012;3:87.6. Alpert JS. White crows and Aesop’s fables. Am J Med 2007;120:379.7. Hoffman JR. Rethinking case reports. West J Med 1999;170:253-4.8. McGee G. The plural of anecdote is not Ambien. Scientist 2006.9. Patsopoulos NA, Analatos AA, Ioannidis JP. Relative citation impact of various study designs in the health sciences. JAMA 2005;293:2362-6.5CytoJournal 2016, 13:15 http://www.cytojournal.com/content/13/1/15 CytoJournal 2016, 13:15 http://www.cytojournal.com/content/13/1/1510. Vandenbroucke J. Case reports in an evidence-based world. J R Soc Med 1999;92:159-63.11. Chelvarajah R, Bycroft J. Writing and publishing case reports: The road to success. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2004;146:313-6.12. Pierson DJ. Case reports in respiratory care. Respir Care 2004;49:1186‑94.13. Vandenbroucke JP. In defense of case reports and case series. Ann Intern Med 2001;134:330-4.14. Mahajan RP, Hunter JM. Volume 100: Case reports: Should they be confined to the dustbin? Br J Anaesth 2008;100:744-6.15. Storytelling: Benefits and Tips: British Council, BBC World Service. Available from: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/storytelling‑benefits‑tips. [Last accessed on 2016 May 10].16. Yuan HF, Xu WD, Hu HY. Young Chinese doctors and the pressure of publication. Lancet 2013;381:e4.17. Bhattacharrya S, Miller J, Ropper AH. The case for case reports. Ann Neurol 2014;76:484-6.18. Akers KG. New journals for publishing medical case reports. J Med Libr Assoc 2016;104:146-9.19. Ortega-Loubon C. Writing a case report: A work of art. Int J Med Stud 2014;2:90-1.20. Chaump M, Giorgadze T, Schreiner AM. Urine cytology: Pitfall due to a “remnant” lesion. Cytojournal 2015;12:16.21. Kanjanahattakij N, Chayangsu P, Kanoksil W, Chontong S, Sriphrapradang C. Pitfall in immunohistochemical staining for thyroglobulin in case of thyroid metastasis from lung carcinoma. Cytojournal 2015;12:27.22. Bhalla A, Meijas-Badillo L, Jencks A, Shidham VB. Thyroid gland and adjacent lesions: Cytomorphological clues! Cytojournal 2015;12:10.23. Fox R. Writing a case report: An editor’s eye view. Hosp Med 2000;61:863-4.24. Har‑el G. Does it take a village to write a case report? Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;120:787-8.25. Defining the Role of Authors and Contributors: International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Available from: http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles‑and‑responsibilities/defining‑the‑role‑of‑authors‑and‑contributors.html. [Last accessed on 2016 May 10].26. Constructing Written Test Questions for the Basic and Clinical Sciences: National Board of Medical Examiners; 2002. Available from: http://www.nbme.org/PDF/ItemWriting_2003/2003IWGwhole.pdf. [Last accessed on 2016 May 10].

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\u3cem\u3eCytoJournal\u3c/em\u3e Quiz Cases: Publishing Open-Access, PubMed-Searchable Cytopathology Cases with Educational Messages

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