Oxford Handbook of Clinical Diagnosis (Oxford Handbooks Series) - Softcover

Llewelyn, Huw; Ang, Hock Aun; Lewis, Keir E; Al-Abdullah, Anees

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0192632493 ISBN 13: 9780192632494

Publisher: OUP Oxford, 2006

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.

About this title

Review:

Another reliable guide from the Oxford Handbooks series. It takes a symptom or physical finding and lists the possible differential diagnoses. It includes a summary of the investigations needed. It also refers the reader to the relevant pages in the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine. This book could be used as a revision aid - it would provide a comprehensive list of diagnoses when taking histories on the ward. (Northwing)

The book tackles a minefield of signs and symptoms, putting them all together in an attempt to simplify a clinical problem...The approaches are easy to remember and non-intimidating...each system is then broken down into common symptoms, then signs. This is also excellent...[it] gives a good, clear, concise view of a very difficult and broad subject, and must have taken some time to put together...a good book to slot into your library. (British Journal of Hospital Medicine)

The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Diagnosis is an excellent resource which can help students and junior doctors to hone their diagnostic skills. ... It teaches you how to pick out the important 'lead' features of a history and how to decipher the relevant from the irrelevant. ... this is a refreshingly different textbook with a clear layout and is easy to navigate. ... I would recommend it to all clinical students and junior doctors. (GKT Gazette)

I can't for the life of me work out why OUP hasn't come up with a book like this before. After all when you've taken the history and examined the patient you want to know the likeliest diagnosis and be able to justify it and that's exactly what this book does. ... Another first class compact but comprehensive book from OUP and particularly recommended to the student and junior doctor. (Dr JM Sager)

From the Publisher:

As stated in the first chapter, the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Diagnosis(and all other books on differential diagnosis) are based on the personal experience of the authors, conventional teaching, and other books on differential diagnosis. The reader is advised to use it sensibly and to make amendments based on local teaching and experience. There is very little published evidence-based knowledge, if any, on the differential diagnoses of symptoms, signs and test results at present. The Appendix describes the set and probability theory of differential diagnosis and how such evidence should be sought in future. The OHCD aims to stimulate better understanding of the diagnostic process. Detailed review was undertaken before publication, including by a psychiatrist.

The OHCD also describes diagnoses that may well be rare but are not to be missed.

The reviewer is right about some issues; e.g. he is right about the `down' arrow for MCV being misprinted (it should have been up).

We appreciate feedback on the book and always correct errors where they have been identified.

About this edition

• Publisher: OUP Oxford
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0192632493
• ISBN 13: 9780192632494
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 728