Abstract
In recent years, with increased awareness of issues related to the handling of personal information, ethical guidelines have been established for the protection of the privacy of participants in studies. However, there are no clear guidelines applicable to case studies. We surveyed how case studies are handled in domestic journals, and examined issues associated with case studies related to familial tumors. Considering the clinical characteristics of familial tumors, where not only the index patient, but also their family and family history, is the subject of the study, careful attention must be given to: 1) obtaining informed consent from participants in the study; 2) protection of privacy; and 3) assurance of the scientific value of the study.
