Neurological Differential Diagnosis

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Summary: Neurological Differential Diagnosis
Review: A fast read (for a neurology text, i.e.). Clear and concise writing and explanations. Nice illustrations. Doesn't bog you down with minutia. A great starter book for budding neurologists.

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Summary: Beautiful illustrations and a pleasure to read
Review: I am a 3rd-year neurology resident, and I don't have the time nor the energy to plow through thousands of pages of densely written neurology textbooks. This book has wonderful illustrations that make it easy to remember the complexities of the nervous system so that you can put them to use for localization at the bedside. The text is clear but not verbose. I highly recommend this book for neurology residents.

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Summary: Best ever
Review: I am a board certified neurologist and this book is the best ever I have ever reviewed. If you are just starting to learn what neurology is all about. Start here. The first chapter that I started reading was number 16, Diagnosis of cervical root and peripheral nerve lesions affecting arm.After that there was no stopping every chapter after that was interesting and easy and focused. I always use to be concerned that how am I suppose to memorize all the dermatome levels and exact root values of reflexes and muscles. This is the book which made this sooooooooo much sense and I exaxctly knew which are the imp ones and I need to remember and which I do not need to worry about. Start chapter 16 then 17 then anywhere you want to go.This would be my recommendation.

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Summary: Clinical Neuroanatomy for the Student and Practitioner
Review: John Patton's Neurological Differential Diagnosis was the first text of neurology I purchased, at the suggestion of my chief resident Dr. John Stiller while doing my required 3-month clerkship during my medical training inthe 1980's. I still own the original 1977 Edition, and still make use of it's insightful diagrams and concise, to-the-point clinical discussions. Although I am not a neurologist, (I am a clincial anaesthesiologist specialized in the diagnosis and treatment ofchronic pain disorders, and an assistant professor of neuroscience at a university), I still find Patton's ingenious illustrations very helpful in mastering the neuroanatomy and pathophysiology of neurological diseases I see in the pain clinic setting. I also use the illustrations from this text in my graduate course on Clinical Neuroscince and Chronic Pain at my university. This is one of those textbooks whose information I really trust. The Second Edition''s table of contents looks much the same as the Firsts'. I would assume the Second Edition has retained the author's text and illustrations and has added some plates and discussions of neuroimaging. Overall, a very worthwhile investment for a medical student's, doctor's, or neuroscientist's library.

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Summary: Beautiful illustrations and a pleasure to read
Review: Not the most complete book on neurological differential diagnosis (I do not know what book that would be), but is is a treasure simply for its amazing illustrations. You can actually see things only described about in other texts. It almost seems like one is at the neuroanatomy lab! The short vignettes are a nice touch and may be helpful to some. They serve to break up the text and reinforce the pathology just described. I think this book is best used by residents.

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Summary: Best illustrations around
Review: Not the most complete book on neurological differential diagnosis (I do not know what book that would be), but is is a treasure simply for its amazing illustrations. You can actually see things only described about in other texts. It almost seems like one is at the neuroanatomy lab! The short vignettes are a nice touch and may be helpful to some. They serve to break up the text and reinforce the pathology just described. I think this book is best used by residents.

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Summary: A little known masterpiece
Review: This beautifully written textbook is a one author tour de force on sorting out neurological differential diagnoses on the basis of the neurological exam and history.

The author, John Philip Patten, is a British neurologist whose classical training is evident in the thoroughness with which he discusses most of the problems. The artwork in the book is an especially attractive feature, having been produced by the author's son to very carefully illustrate the concepts his father expounds. The book is suitable for the neurological and neurosurgical resident keen on understanding how the clinical examination can help with diagnosis.

My only criticism is that the differential diagnoses offered are in no way comprehensive. If the author produced tables of differentials for each problem, along with the frequencies of each differential and explanations as to how to sort through them, the book would be much better. I sincerely hope this suggestion will be considered when the time comes for a new edition.