Movement Disorders 100 Instructive Cases PDF

Preface

The case-by-case method is arguably the most important teaching tool in medicine. This is particularly true of neurology and especially the area of movement disorders where diagnosis largely depends on a careful, detailed history and examination coupled with pattern recognition. It is with this background in mind that Movement Disorders: 100 Instructive Cases was conceived. This is not intended to be a textbook but the number and diversity of cases covers a broad spectrum of movement disorders ranging from Parkinson's disease and parkinsonian syndromes, to ataxia, to hyperkinetic disorders such as tremor, myoclonus, chorea and dystonia. While some cases are zebras, others demonstrate common movement disorders and the link is that all have at least one important teaching point. Although there is some duplication of cases, this can be justified as each author puts on his or her unique spin, but more importantly, repetition is one of the most valuable teaching and learning techniques.

I am appreciative to the many authors of this book who share my enthusiasm for teaching and learning, for contributing such "instructive" cases. Pete Stevenson, formerly with Martin Dunitz publishers, got this project started. I am particularly grateful for the editors at Informa who saw this to completion: Lindsay Campbell, Alexa Chamay Berrier, and Alan Burgess, for their patience and encouragement. I owe a debt of thanks to William J Weiner, chairman of Neurology at the University of Maryland, who helped turn this book from an idea into reality by his guidance, teaching, wisdom, enthusiasm and support—qualities he has consistently demonstrated since I came to the University of Maryland in 2002.

Truth be told, this book, with so many chapters, videos, figures and authors, could not have been completed if it were not for the outstanding organizational skills of my secretary, Ms Nandy Yearwood. My parents, Edith and Henry Reich, have had at the same time little and everything to do with this book and I am pleased to dedicate it to them with appreciation of their love and support. My wife, Dana Boatman, shares in the dedication. Unfailingly supportive, even when undeserved, she has read many of the chapters, listened patiently and enthusiastically to more details of Movement Disorders: 100 Instructive Cases than she ever wanted to know, and never doubted that this could be finished, even when I did. We are the proud parents of a son, Daniel, who serves to remind us daily that while professional accomplishments are important, some things are more important.

Finally, and most importantly, I know that I speak for all authors when I express tremendous gratitude to the patients who graciously allowed their cases and images to be shared in order to educate physicians in the care of patients with movement disorders.