BOOKS FOR DOCTORS

Pathognosis

    Pathognosis advises a doctor as to which clinical signs should be elicited, and which pathology and other investigations should be performed, to confirm a suspected diagnosis in a patient, as well as the other diagnoses that should be considered in this patient.

    It lists hundreds of possible diagnoses and acts as a memory aid to guide doctors through the steps necessary to make a definitive diagnosis and allows other possible diagnoses to be considered. The basic physiology of each diagnosis is also explained.

    The data it contains is available to be used in print or electronically.

    Its circulation currently exceeds 170,000 copies.

PATHOGNOSIS

The Pathology Tests and Clinical Signs that will Confirm a Diagnosis and the Differential Diagnoses of Diseases

FORMAT

Suspect Diagnosis [Abbreviation]

(Alternate Name)

Test:    The pathology tests (biochemistry, haematology, cytology and bacteriology) that should be considered when a history and examination indicate that this is a probable diagnosis. The result that may be expected with this diagnosis is shown in (brackets) after each test. Physiological, electrophysiological (eg: ECG) and radiological tests are not always included. See Pathology section four  for the explanation and interpretation of these tests

Sign:    Signs (not symptoms), methods of examination and clinical findings that may be useful in the diagnosis of, or may be found in association with, this disease or syndrome. See Symptoms section two for the explanation and interpretation of these signs

DD:    Differential diagnoses. Other diseases with which this diagnosis may be confused

Phys:    The basic physiology of the disease, to enable the reason for abnormal pathology tests or signs to be better understood

See also Other Entries or  Sections of Significance

SAMPLE ENTRIES:-

Goodpasture Syndrome

Test:    B.glomerular basement mebrane antibodies (+), lung or renal biopsy (AB), sputum blood

            (+), sputum microscopy (haemosiderin laden macrophages), S.urea (H), S.creatinine

            (H), U.blood (+), U.protein (+)

DD:    Bronchitis, pneumonia, TB, renal failure, nephrotic syndrome, glomerulonephritis

Phys:    Syndrome of pulmonary haemorrhages and renal failure due to damaged basement membranes in the kidney and lungs

See also Syndromes section six : Goodpasture Syndrome

Gout

Test:    S.urate (H), synovial fluid microscopy (urates present), fluid WCC (H), 24 hour U.urates (L in underexcretors), ESR (H), WCC (H), S.creatinine (H)

DD:    Osteoarthritis, pseudogout, rheumatoid arthritis, trauma, synovitis, cellulitis, osteomyelitis, sarcoid, multiple myeloma, psoriatic arthritis, Reiter syn., ankylosing spondylitis

Phys:    Excess intake of purines and under excretion of urates predisposes to high serum uric acid levels and crystal deposition in joints. A normal s.urate does not exclude gout as a         diagnosis

Granuloma Inguinale

(Donovanosis)

Test:    Tissue microscopy (Donovan Bodies +)

Sign:    Papule or ulcer on genitals

DD:    Neoplasm, chancroid, syphilis, amoebiasis, lymphogranuloma venereum

Phys:    Caused by Calymmatobacterium granulomatis