Neurological Differential Diagnosis: A Prioritized Approach
"This is a "pearl" of a book for any clinician who is asked to assess patients with symptoms or signs suggestive of a neurological disorder, including neurologists, internists, geriatricians, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, general practitioners, trainees, and students. Neurological Differential Diagnosis will enlighten clinicians on the most likely and important differential diagnoses to consider and exclude, and guide appropriate and cost-effective investigations. The book has a unique format; it is the only book I know to list differential diagnoses according to what is most common in patients of the same demographic and what is potentially the most lethal and disabling. This hierarchy of differential diagnoses is clearly and consistently presented (eg, in bold and italicised text) throughout the book. Associated relevant background information for each symptom, syndrome, or disorder is well presented (in shaded boxes) with the list of differential diagnoses. Welcome chapters on paediatric neurology, neurogenetics, neuroradiology, diagnostic tests, neuroanatomy, and neuropathology are included. Although few references are given, the book seems to be valid, based on a wealth of clinical experience coupled with best evidence from the available literature. Even after practising clinical neurology for more than 20 years, I have already dipped into this book on several occasions to help me with tricky patients, and I have to remind my neurology residents and registrars, and colleagues in the accident and emergency department, to return it."--Graeme J Hankey (The Lancet Neurology, Vol 4 November 2005)