Provides an authoritative guide to investigation and diagnosis. Describes key symptoms and signs, alongisde appropriate tests, and highlights pitfalls in interpreting results. Describes a clear, rational method of investigation in order to aid quick and efficient diagnosis, and prevent over-investigation of patients.

• 1: The Patient


• 1: Drew Provan: Symptoms and signs


• 2: Investigations


• 2: Colin Dayan: Endocrinology and metabolism


• 3: Vanessa Fogo and Drew Provan: Haematology


• 4: Gavin Spickett: Immunology and allergy


• 5: Prof Brian Angus: Infectious and tropical diseases


• 6: Andrew R. Houghton: Cardiology


• 7: Emma Greig: Gastroenterology


• 8: Joanna Brown: Respiratory medicine


• 9: Martyn Bracewell: Neurology


• 10: Charlie Tomson and Sarah McLoskey: Renal medicine


• 11: Alison Jones: Poisoning and overdose


• 12: Suzanne Lane: Rheumatology


• 13: Tanya Chawla: Radiology


• 14: Jim Ballinger and Gopinath Gnanasegaran: Nuclear medicine

Dr Provan is currently Honorary Reader in Autoimmune Haematology at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. He studied molecular genetics at Leicester University before studying medicine. After junior medical posts in the UK, I undertook research at The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from 1993-4 on an American Traveling fellowship awarded by the Medical Research Council.
As a general haematologist, his main area of interest within the field of haematology is immunohaematology which includes diseases such as autoimmune thrombocytopenia (ITP), neutropenia and haemolytic anaemia.
He has written several medical books including Molecular Haematology (Blackwell Science), Oxford Handbook of Clinical Haematology and Oxford Handbook of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, and the ABC of Clinical Haematology (BMJ books).