Neuroimaging tells you what a lesion looks like; John Patten tells you where to look for the lesion. In an era of "pan-scanning," Patten’s book is a necessary corrective, teaching clinicians to use their reflex hammers and tuning forks before ordering a $3,000 MRI.
Her patient was a 64-year-old concert pianist, Mr. August. His complaint sounded simple: “My left hand has forgotten how to play.” neurological differential diagnosis john patten pdf top
Patten's book is organized by symptom, rather than by disease, which reflects the clinical approach to differential diagnosis. Each chapter focuses on a specific symptom, such as headache, weakness, or numbness, and provides a detailed analysis of the possible causes, including the relevant clinical features, investigations, and management options. Neuroimaging tells you what a lesion looks like;