Clinical presentation (article structure)

Last revised by Jeremy Jones on 10 Apr 2023

Clinical presentation is one of the main subheadings in a standard article

Location

The "Clinical presentation" subheading is located after "Diagnosis" and before "Pathology".

Structure

Information regarding typical clinical presentation for the entity described in the heading should be included by briefly (one sentence or short paragraph) stating relevant symptoms and signs. Basic pathology (e.g. 'routine' blood tests (e.g. CRP, urea), urinalysis, etc.) results can also be included.  

A subheading Complications can be used in this section to refer to complications intrinsic to the condition and complications that can lead to presentation (e.g. rupture of a berry aneurysm or pathological fracture through a bone lesion).

By contrast, complications that reflect longer-term sequelae of the condition should be placed in the treatment and prognosis section, e.g. pneumonia as a complication of rib fractures. In addition complications that occur secondary to treatment are best placed in the treatment and prognosis section too.

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