Shibasaki H., Hallett M. The Neurologic Examination: Scientific Basis for Clinical Diagnosis

Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016. — 317 p.Whereas most books about neurologic examinations are disease and anatomy oriented, The Neurologic Examination: Scientific Basis for Clinical Diagnosis focuses on a pathophysiological approach to the nervous system. The authors emphasize that the scientific interpretation of symptoms obtained from carefully taking the patient's history and noting signs found during physical examination are essential in the diagnosis of neurologic diseases, even if laboratory testing, such as electrophysiology and neuroimaging, are being more widely used. This book aims to provide a bridge from the basic sciences such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and molecular biology to the neurologic symptoms. Neurologic examinations provide the foundation for the diagnosis, and only after a thorough and expertly executed examination can one begin to incorporate laboratory testing and treatment.The Neurologic Examination: Scientific Basis for Clinical Diagnosis, based on the widely successful Japanese book Diagnosis of Neurological Diseases (Igakushoin, Japan, second edition 2013) by Dr. Shibasaki, hopes to revitalize the use of neurologic examinations before jumping straight into laboratory testing. Doing so can help cut down on time, patient and physician anxiety, and unnecessary testing expenses. This book is a must-read for all practicing neurologists, residents, and medical students.
Key Features Include
- The chapters are arranged in order of the actual steps in a neurologic examination;
- Highly illustrated with figures and tables indicative of the neurologic signs and symptoms that may appear during the given step; and
- 99 discussion boxes are inserted throughout to provide a more in-depth look at particular topics without interrupting the reading flow of the text.Table of BoxesExplanatory Notes
Diagnosis of Neurological Diseases (General Principle)
History Taking
Physical Examination
Evaluation of Consciousness
Brainstem and Cranial Nerve Territories
Olfactory Sensation
Visual Functions
Pupils and Accommodation
Extraocular Muscles, Gaze, and Eye Movements
Trigeminal Nerve
Facial Nerve
Auditory Function
Sense of Equilibrium
Swallowing, Phonation, and Articulation
Neck and Trunk
Motor Functions
Tendon Reflexes and Pathologic Reflexes
Involuntary Movements
Somatosensory Function
Autonomic Nervous System
Posture and Gait
Mental and Cognitive Functions
Aphasia, Apraxia, and Agnosia
Paroxysmal and Functional Disorders
Ion Channel Disorders
Psychogenic Neurological Diseases
Thalamus
Hypothalamus and Neuroendocrinology
Neurological Emergency
Disability, Functional Recovery, and Prognosis
How to Plan Laboratory Tests
Afterword: For Those Who Wish to Study Neurology