Diagnosis in Neurologic Disease

Milligan, T. A.

The diagnosis of neurologic disease is relevant to the non-neurologist because neurologic symptoms are a common reason patients present to their health care provider and most of these patients are never referred to a neurologist. The diagnosis of a neurologic disease is a rewarding endeavor because it requires intellectual rigor, skill, and is of paramount importance to patient care. A tailored history and examination lead to localization and differential diagnosis. Diagnostic testing often involves neuroimaging and serum testing and also may involve lumbar puncture, electroencephalogram, nerve conduction studies, and electromyography. In the modern era, all neurologic diagnoses lead to treatments.