The initial chapters cover the basic approach a clinician takes when encountering a patient with a neurologic problem, the key elements of the neurologic exam, and an overview of common neurologic tests. They discuss how to use the history and neurologic exam to localize the patient's problem to specific neuroanatomic sites and to use the neuroanatomic information along with results of appropriate laboratory tests to establish a diagnosis.

The second half of the book is divided into chapters that discuss common diseases presenting at different neuroanatomic sites along the neuroaxis, from muscle to the cerebral cortex, and chapters on diseases that have similar pathophysiologies. The authors selected 58 neurologic diseases based on their frequency, ability to represent that category of neurologic disease, value in teaching neuroscience concepts, and diagnostic importance. Each chapter begins with an overview to understand the common features of this group of diseases. Selected diseases are then discussed with an emphasis on the pathophysiology, major clinical features, major laboratory findings, and the principles of disease management. This book covers both adult and pediatric neurologic diseases as well as selected neurosurgical diseases.

Key features include:

• On the inside front cover of this book is an easily accessible Essential Neurologic Exam. This simple exam should be performed on every patient seen. Then, depending on patient history and abnormal findings, the exam can be expanded upon.

• The book can be used either on clinical rotations on a neurology service or in the classroom.

• The book focuses on the most important neurologic diseases, carefully selected based on frequency, ability to represent that category of neurologic disease, value in teaching neuroscience concepts, and diagnostic importance. Thus, students with a limited period of time can focus on the most important neurologic diseases that they need to understand. This is in contrast to existing texts that list virtually every disease within each category, with each disease given almost equal weight regardless of its importance, as a result of which the student can easily become confused as to which disease are important to understand.

• An early chapter discusses the common tests ordered for neurologic patients, including the basic principles of the test, when the test is helpful, and some general principles toward interpretation of the results. This approach helps students understand in the later chapters why certain tests are recommended for specific diseases.

• Each disease chapter begins with an extensive introduction that includes the features of illnesses that occur at that anatomic location or class of disease. This helps a reader understand how to localize neurologic illnesses that in turn leads to improved differential diagnosis and the better ordering of diagnostic tests. It also helps the reader understand how the nervous system is organized and how disease in each part can lead to specific types of signs and symptoms.

• Attention is focused on the pathophysiology of each disease, in contrast to books that just list signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests ordered, and drugs with doses that can be used. This book allows the student to better understand the etiology, the pathology and how the pathology causes neurologic signs and symptoms.

• Two color printing of illustrations greatly improves readability. No other common student book has this.

• Medical students taking a 3-4 week clinical rotation on neurology in their third or fourth year

• Medical students taking integrated neuroscience courses in which clinical diseases are mixed in with basic neuroscience

• Internal Medicine, Family Practice or Psychiatric house officers who want to learn about neurologic diseases for their residency boards; many residents in internal medicine rate neurologic diseases as the group of illness they know the least about.

• Neuropsychology students going for their PhD or clinical certificate; they usually have a lecture course on neurologic diseases.

• Psychology students going for their PhD in experimental psychology or abnormal psychology, who often take lecture courses on neurologic diseases.

• Physical, Occupational and Speech Pathology students; over a third of their training focuses on neurologic diseases and all take classes on neurologic diseases.

• Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residents; a considerable portion of their training deals with neurologic diseases.

• Nursing students taking a course on neurologic diseases.

• Undergraduate college courses on neuroscience, some of which focus on clinical diseases more than others."

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  Reviews

  "A useful book written by committed teachers with vast experience dealing with medical students... The book strikes a balance between essential how to do neurology"" with details about individual clinical problem solving and specific diseases. The tables and figures are excellent, and the book is concise enough to be read during a neurology rotation.""--Archives of Neurology

  ""Medical students, postgraduates and general physicians can benefit in updating their knowledge of neurologic diseases.""--World Neurology

  ""Clear, concise, and pleasing in appearance...a useful addition to the shelf of students and practicing clinicians alike who want a book that is easy to use and written in a clear, accessible, and readable style.""--British Journal of Occupational Therapy

  ""It is ideal as both an introduction to the basic principles of neurology and as a study guide in preparation for exams...Fundamentals of Neurologic Disease fits well with being a scholarly tool with practical merit that can be easily read or consulted in a short period of time."" --Journal of Alzheimer's Disease"

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  Contents

  Approach to the patient with a neurologic problem; Neurologic exam; Common neurologic tests; Disorders of muscle; Disorders of the neuromuscular junction; Disorders of peripheral nerves; Disorders of the spinal cord and vertebral bodies; Disorders of the brainstem and cerebellum; Disorders of the cerebrovascular system; Disorders of myelin; Disorders of higher cognitive function; Disorders of the extrapyramidal system; Central nervous system infections; Brain tumors; Seizures and status epilepticus; Coma and cerebral death; Disorders of the developing nervous system; Traumatic brain injury and subdural hematoma; Neurologic complications of alcoholism; Disorders of pain and headache; Disorders of the vestibular system.

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  About the Authors

  Larry Davis, MD

  Larry E. Davis, M.D., FACN, FACP, is Chief of the Neurology Service at the New Mexico VA Health Care System and Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine

  Molley King, MD

  Molly K. King, M.D. is on the Neurology Service at the New Mexico VA Health Care System and Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. / Jessica L. Schultz , MD - Jessica L. Schultz, M.D. is in the Department of Neurology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

  Jessica Schultz, MD

  Jessica L. Schultz , MD - Jessica L. Schultz, M.D. is in the Department of Neurology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine.