The Neurology Board Exam , despite recent changes , still continues to be the toughest of all board exams. This is due to two reasons, the first reason is that there is a huge amount of basic science that is included in the exam , including neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, neuropathology, neuroanatomy, histology, microbiology etc. This sets it apart form Board exams in other specialities. This basically involves mastering a large quantity of basic science information, starting with fundamentals such as neurons and dendrites, all the way to advanced concepts such as molecular diagnosis. There are always new tidbits of information that flow into the world of neurology on a regular basis, such as new genetic test for an exotic syndrome, and such. But the cold hard fact is that the fundamentals of neuroscience, which means the hard core basics such as action potential, receptors, neurotransmitters, etc remain the same, and not matter what all fancy journals you are religiously reading every week and piling up CME credits, your success in the neurology board exam hinges on knowing the basics of neuroscience thoroughly. The only sure way to do this is to go to your hospital library and dig up all the neurscience books you can find, which systematically cover neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, neuropathology, neuroanatomy, histology, microbiology etc.
The second important aspect about preparing for the neurology boards is to have mastered the thought process that goes into neurological differential diagnosis, ie the long and tortuous thought process that starts with each symptom, and threads its way methodically through the localization, followed by the differential diagnosis followed by investigations, followed by the primary diagnosis and subsequent management plan. No other medical speciality requires this kind of methodical thinking, which of course is backed by an in-depth knowledge of the most complex of all organ systems in the body. For example, if you see a patient with a numb little finger, the first step is the localization, is the lesion in the ulnar nerve at the wrist, or is it at the ulnar nerve at the elbow, or is it in the brachial plexus, or in the C8 cervical nerve root or is it in the cervical spinal cord or the contralateral cerebral hemisphere. Once you decide where it is, the next step is to know what all diagnostic entities can cause that particular lesion in that particular location. Now we come to the investigations which will help confirm the primary diagnosis. Neurology is to the medical world what nuclear physics is to the engineering world, a science that is intriguing, exciting and challenging, qualities that could be fun in everyday life, but could be the bane of your existence when it is in an examination setting.
These are the two top NEUROLOGY BOARD REVIEW software products that will go a long way in helping you with your neurology board exam preparation:
This is a massive collection of almost 5000 learning points in neuroscience, which cover almost everything that you MUST know in neuroscience, from neuroanatomy to clinical neurology. This is the biggest and most in depth review resource for the neurology board exam. If you have limited time to prepare for the exam, this gives you the most value for your dollar.
This is a remarkable compilation of more than 90 case scenarios which cover everything from common presentations such as ischemic stroke , to more exotic presentations such as a numb penis. Each case scenario painstakingly goes through the localization , then the differential diagnosis, and finally the management. This software is not just useful for your board exam, but also in your clinical practise of neurology. Originally designed for the tough Neurology Oral Exams (which have since been abolished due to the high failure rate among candidates) this is a power tool that you MUST have.
