Lesson 14: Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, and Complementary Medicine Chapter 2: Laboratory Testing, Endoscopy, Centesis, Biopsy, and Imaging

ANA Antinuclear Antibody

Used for autoimmune disorders

BMP Basic Metabolic Panel

Group of tests used as a screening tool to check for conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease

CBC Complete Blood Count

Screens for a variety of diseases

CMP Comprehensive Metabolic Profile

Group of blood tests that measure blood sugar

Lytes Electrolyte Panel

Detects problems with electrolyte balance (usually sodium and potassium)

ESR Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate

Detects the presence of inflammation

hCG Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

Used to confirm a pregnancy

HbA1c Hemoglobin A1c

Used to test for or monitor a patient's diabetes

HDL-C High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

Indicates a patient's risk of developing heart disease

LDL-C Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

Indicates a patient's risk of developing heart disease

LP Lipid Profile

Group of tests that indicate the patient's risk of cardiovascular disease

PSA Prostate Specific Antigen

Screens men for prostate cancer

PT Prothrombin Time (Pro Time)

Monitors how well anticoagulants (blood-thinning medications) are working to prevent blood clots

screening test

detect potential diseases before a patient reports any signs or symptoms of a disease. Diseases uncovered early through routine screenings are often easier to treat.

diagnostic tests

confirm the presence of a disease, usually in a patient who shows signs or symptoms.

endoscopy

the visual examination of the inside of a body cavity.

colonoscopy

visual examination of the interior of the colon.

hysteroscopy

visual examination of interior of uterus

-centesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid

Abdominocentesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid from the abdomen.

amniocentesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid from the amniotic sac.

Cardiocentesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid from the heart.

thoracemtesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid from inside the chest

biopsy

the removal of a small piece of living tissue for examination

radiology

the medical specialty that uses medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases within the body.

x-ray

a quick, painless test that produces images of the structures inside the body

CT scan

uses special x-ray equipment to produce multiple images of structures that cannot be seen with regular x-rays

MRI

uses no ionizing radiation and is a noninvasive, safe, and painless procedure

ultrasound

uses high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the body's internal structures

nuclear medicine scan

a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive substances to diagnose or treat a variety of diseases