Media and Book Reviews: Comprehensive Review in Clinical Neurology: A Multiple Choice Question Book for the Wards and Boards, First Edition

Dr. Cheng-Ching, a medical internist and neurologist, sought to write a neurology review book that was case-based and comprehensive. Authorship also includes neurology housestaff and attendings at the Cleveland Clinic. Although the authors believe that the book may be helpful to medical students, residents, fellows, and even attendings, it seems most applicable to residents. More specifically, it seems best geared as a study aid for board examinations than as an adjunct to daily life on the wards. Nonetheless, some questions may be helpful to medical students looking for a challenge as well as attendings hoping to brush up on their neurology base. The book presents mostly cases only in a question-and-answer format. Conveniently, the content of the book can be accessed just about anywhere via Kindle for e-readers and computers and via online access to the questions that are presented in the book. Notably, however, the Web site containing questions does require the software Java, which may not be accessible on mobile Apple products.

Because this review book is a collaborative effort among both residents and faculty, different viewpoints, including that of the resident to which this book is primarily geared, are thus presented. The book examines numerous neurology topics, which is thus extremely helpful for board review. There are 33 to 98 easy-to-read, yet deep and thought-provoking questions per each of the 17 chapters that are generally organized by neurology subspecialty. There is overlap among some questions and answers, but this is likely to be beneficial for those who view repetition as key to learning. The answers are very comprehensive, often providing additional details about the question topic and explaining wrong answers as well. Some answers contain tables to assist with further review. Each chapter concludes with a table containing “buzz words” and corresponding “key points” with high-yield points for the boards that can be quickly and easily reviewed. The nearly 25-page index provides reference to multiple topics in the text. Figures, including EEGs, neuroimages, and pathology specimens, are found frequently among the questions.

Because only questions and answers with no upfront material (unlike other review books) are presented, this book may be best used as an adjunct to other review materials. One disadvantage is that the lengthy but comprehensive answers may prevent a concise review of a subject area if that is what is desired. Also, among the answers, some of the written explanations do not necessarily correspond to the letter provided as the correct answer.

Despite minor drawbacks, overall Dr. Cheng-Ching and colleagues have written a comprehensive review of neurology in a case-based format with high-yield tips, tables, and figures provided throughout that can be a valuable board review for neurologists of all levels but especially for residents.

• © 2013 American Academy of Neurology