ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the scope of the book and highlights its proposed use, while offering clear advice to avoid misuse. The process of differential diagnosis is described in a stepwise manner, explicitly outlining how the current book can be part of it. A number of decisions made during the preparation of this work, regarding citations and references, and the creation of different visuals, are explained, while additional brief guidelines are given to further promote the best use of this textbook and its various components. References and suggested readings are provided at the end, including seminal textbooks on palaeopathology, as well as papers critically approaching the topic of differential diagnosis.
