In the PACES examination there are often well known and recognisable clinical signs on display that suggest the diagnosis. One misses these in the heat of the examination. On the other hand, if you recognise a sign it can direct your thoughts to a purposeful examination to arrive at the correct diagnosis.

Here, we present a list of the possible clinical conditions with illustrations and provide a brief description of clinical features suitable for presentation.

Progressing through this tutorial, and looking at these frequently occurring clinical spot diagnoses, will bring home the most important advice of many candidates and examiners, 'keep calm and keep looking.'

Dr M Afzal Mir, Senior Lecturer and Consultant Physician, UHW, Cardiff.