Product Description

The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Diagnosis helps the reader to interpret symptoms, physical signs and initial test results and to allow students (or doctors not familiar with all aspects of medicine) to arrive at diagnoses logically and to explain their reasoning confidently.

The book starts with a review of the techniques of history taking and examination, with hints on how to interpret the information and practical advice on the diagnostic process. The bulk of the book is divided by body system and describes the findings that can emerge at each stage of the assessment process. The main differential diagnoses of significant findings are given as a starting point for the diagnostic reasoning process. With each diagnosis is listed the findings which suggests that the
diagnosis might be present and the evidence which confirms the diagnosis.

This unique book concentrates entirely on the diagnosis, referring readers to the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine and Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties for management information. It will also train readers to describe the diagnosis and reasoning behind it to a patient, relative, peer, or senior colleague.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26955 in Books
• Published on: 2006-02-16
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 728 pages

Synopsis
The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Diagnosis helps the reader to interpret symptoms, physical signs and initial test results and to allow students (or doctors not familiar with all aspects of medicine) to arrive at diagnoses logically and to explain their reasoning confidently. The book starts with a review of the techniques of history taking and examination, with hints on how to interpret the information and practical advice on the diagnostic process. The bulk of the book is divided by body system and describes the findings that can emerge at each stage of the assessment process. The main differential diagnoses of significant findings are given as a starting point for the diagnostic reasoning process. With each diagnosis is listed the findings which suggests that the diagnosis might be present and the evidence which confirms the diagnosis. This unique book concentrates entirely on the diagnosis, referring readers to the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine and Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties for management information. It will also train readers to describe the diagnosis and reasoning behind it to a patient, relative, peer, or senior colleague.

Customer Reviews

Essential for med school revision
I bought this book a week ago and my confidence in diagnosis has increased ten fold. Not only can you pick the symptom you think is most relavent and look up what could be causing it, you also get a list of conditions with associated features, and how the condition is confirmed.

In real terms when on for example A&E, you get a patient with difuse hair loss (I had no idea where to start on this one) and you get given options of cytotoxic drugs , iron deficiency, sever illness, hypogonadism and recent pregnancy. You would then see what the symptoms of each are, and how you would confirm each.

It made the situation of coming away from a patient totally confused much easier. I am also better at coming up with differentials now.

Excellent book
This book is one of the most comprehensive I have read on clinical diagnosis and provides a checklist of discriminating criteria for many of the symptoms and signs encountered in clinical practice. My only criticism of this book, from the point of view of a finals student, is that it doesn't specifically list investigations that would be required when a patient has a list of 2 or 3 possible differentials after the history/examination, which are often asked in examinations. In this regard, "Differential Diagnosis" is a useful book to read alongside this one.