The Neurologic Exam

Michael P H Stanley; Kathryn E Hall; William J Mullally

doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2023.03.016

The Neurologic Exam

Am J Med. 2023 Jul;136(7):638-644. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2023.03.016. Epub 2023 Apr 3.

Authors

Michael P H Stanley¹, Kathryn E Hall², William J Mullally³

Affiliations

¹ Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass.
² Translational and Clinical Research Centers, Massachusetts General Hospital, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston.
³ Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass. Electronic address: wmullally@bwh.harvard.edu.

PMID: 37019370
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2023.03.016

Abstract

For most of human history, diseases preying upon the nervous system could only be identified indirectly through neurological signs-making the neurology clinician's examination the principal diagnostic tool. While advanced imaging and electrophysiology of today's practice provides greater diagnostic precision, the wide array of tools available and their applications emphasizes the accuracy that the neurological examination provides to localization, which in turn enables our technology's precision to effectively and efficiently aid one's diagnosis.

Keywords: Neurologic evaluation; The neurologic exam.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Nervous System Diseases* / diagnosis
Neurologic Examination / methods