A unique handbook enabling students and doctors to explain their diagnostic reasoning clearly to patients, colleagues and examiners

Suggests the preliminary tests to be considered for each symptom and sign

Helps diagnoses to be suggested with a sensible degree of certainty and clear supporting evidence

Suggests the 'Initial management' for each diagnostic possibility

Describes the logical and mathematical basis of evidence-based differential diagnosis


New to this edition
Each page describing the differential diagnosis of a symptom or sign now suggests 'Initial tests'

The 'Initial management' is also suggested for each diagnosis

The diagnostic process and its logical basis is explained in mathematical detail to allow the differential diagnostic process to be made evidence-based

The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Diagnosis is the first and only book so far to describe the differential diagnostic thought process so that it can be learnt logically and systematically. It also shows how to justify subjective diagnostic impressions clearly and logically in an evidence-based way. It provides the differential diagnosis of each symptom, physical sign and initial test result. The book uses pattern recognition tables which enable the reader to scan the page to see which diagnostic application would apply best to a patients findingsor case history. The book is aimed at medical students and others who wish to improve their diagnostic skills. It describes how to justify diagnoses and management decisions verbally or in writing and clarifies what evidence is needed to do so from research, and its statistical features. It provides senior doctors with a framework and examples to help teach trainees and students to approach diagnostic problems in a logical way and to justify their opinions. It provides all doctors with practical help when dealing with problems outside their immediate field of expertise, especially general practitioners and those faced with unforeseen situations.