The format of this book is unique.
A case scenario is described in vignette format. A question is posed, along with the answer. Then, a number of variations to the question are given, and answers are proffered for these as well. For example, a case of right lower quadrant pain is presented. Case variations include, (1) dysuria and a urinary WBC count of 10,000 (UTI), (2) minimal dysuria and a urinary WBC count of 8-10/HPF (possible appendicitis), and (3) urinary red blood cells too numerous to count (severe UTI vs. kidney stones). Five additional case variations are presented along with explanations and solutions. By the time one goes through this book, one will be familiar with the diagnosis and management of several hundred clinical scenarios and, more importantly, know how to distinguish one from the other.
The teaching method is extremely effective. After all, medicine isn’t just about knowing what X is; it’s about knowing what else might look like X, but isn’t.
One would think that there would be at least a few dozen medical books that employ this teaching device – but there aren’t, at least not in English. I know of no other book in all of medicine which employs this teaching strategy. (If you know of one, please let me know!)
This is one of the best medical books of all time. And despite its old age (2002!), I highly recommend NMS Surgery Casebook by Bruce E. Jarrell MD to all medical students and to anyone who is interested in reviewing the most important concepts of surgical practice.
Free sample here.
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