Arriving at a Surgical Diagnosis

Book excerpt: This book is a comprehensive guide to clinical diagnosis. Divided into five sections – general surgery, urogenital cases, neurosurgery, trauma, and paediatric surgery – each chapter describes a different disorder or disease. Each condition is presented in a systematic, step by step manner, beginning with an overview of its physiology, pathology and clinical features, then its symptoms, history-taking, examination and differential diagnosis. This highly useful manual presents students with an understanding of how to analyse clinical data in order to reach a diagnosis. More than 367 flow charts, tables and photographic illustrations enhance learning. Key points Comprehensive guide to clinical diagnosis Numerous disorders described in a systematic approach helping students analyse clinical data to reach a diagnosis History-taking presented in questionnaire format Includes more than 367 flow charts, tables and photographic illustrations