Scleroderma : Tests

Examination of the skin may show tightness, thickening, and hardening. Tests may include: Antinuclear antibody; Chest x-ray; CT scan of the lungs; Echocardiogram; ESR; Rheumatoid factor; Urinalysis; Pulmonary function studies; Skin biopsy.

Diagnosis of scleroderma is complicated by the fact that some of its symptoms can accompany other connective-tissue diseases. The most important symptom is thickened or hardened skin on the fingers, hands, forearms, or face. This is found in 98% o...

Diagnosis of scleroderma is complicated by the fact that some of its symptoms can accompany other connective-tissue diseases. The most important symptom is thickened or hardened skin on the fingers, hands, forearms, or face. This is found in 98% o...

Diagnosis of scleroderma is complicated by the fact that some of its symptoms can accompany other connective-tissue diseases. The most important symptom is thickened or hardened skin on the fingers, hands, forearms, or face. This is found in 98% o...

During a physical examination, a health care provider studies a patient's body to determine the presence or absence of physical problems. A typical physical examination includes: Inspection (looking at the body; Palpation (feeling the body with hands; Auscultation (listening to sounds; Percussion (producing sounds.

The antinuclear antibody panel is a blood test that looks at antinuclear antibodies (ANA. Antinuclear antibodies are substances produced by the immune system that attack the body's own tissues. See also: Autoimmune disorder

The antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is a test done early in the evaluation of a person for autoimmune or rheumatic disease, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

ESR stands for erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It is a test that indirectly measures how much inflammation is in the body. However, it rarely leads directly to a specific diagnosis.

The sedimentation rate test, also called the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or sed rate test, measures the speed at which the red blood cells (erythrocytes or RBCs) separate from the liquid part of the blood (plasma) and settle to the bottom in a tube of anticoagulated blood.

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), or sedimentation rate (sed rate), is a measure of the settling of red blood cells in a tube of blood during one hour. The rate is an indication of inflammation and increases in many diseases.

These tests evaluate the immune system, whose function is to defend the body against such invaders as bacteria and viruses. The immune system also plays a role in the control of cancer , and is responsible for the phenomena of allergy, hypersensitivity, and rejection problems when organs or tissue are transplanted. One of the ways the immune system protects the body is by producing proteins called antibodies. Anti-bodies are formed in response to another type of protein called an antigen (anything foreign or different from a natural body protein). Immune complex reactions occur when large numbers of antigen-antibody complexes accumulate in the body.

A biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.

A biopsy describes the procedure that is used to obtain a very small piece of the target tissue. For some tissues, like the lining of the cheek, cells can be obtained just by scrapping the tissue surface. Other samples are collected using forceps that are positioned at the end of an optical device called an endoscope. The physician can view the tissue surface (such as the wall of the large intestine) through the endoscope and use the forceps to pluck tissue from the desired region of the surface. In other cases, the tissue sample needs to be collected as a "plug," using a large hypodermic needle. Examples of the latter include liver or kidney biopsy samples. Samples of muscles and nerves can also be obtained by cutting out a small piece of the target once an incision has been made. When a biopsy is obtained using a needle, the retrieval of a sample relies on the design of the needle and the energy of its insertion into the tissue. The needle used is a hollow tube with a sharp point capable of puncturing tissue. As the needle is driven deeper into a tissue following puncture, tissue will accumulate in the hollow tube. When the needle is withdrawn from the tissue, the plug of tissue remains in the needle tube and can be retrieved for analysis. Many biopsy samples are examined using a light microscope to look for abnormalities in the tissues cells. This examination can involve the staining of the sample to specifically detect target molecules. As well, samples can be used for various biochemical tests, and even to test for the presence and activity of particular genes. A biopsy can remove the entire target region (excisional biopsy) or can remove just a small portion of the target region (incisional biopsy). The latter can be done in three different ways, depending on the sample. A shave biopsy slices off surface tissue. Samples collected by piercing the tissue with a needle represent a punch biopsy. Finally, in fine needle aspiration, a needle is inserted and tissue is subsequently withdrawn into the needle using a syringe.

Detailed information on biopsy, including the most common types of biopsy such as endoscopic biopsy, bone marrow biopsy, excisional biopsy, incisional biopsy, fine needle aspiration biopsy, punch biopsy, shave biopsy, and skin biopsy

Biopsy is a diagnostic procedure in which a piece of tissue and/or cells are removed to be examined under a microscope by a pathologist.

Detailed information on several of the different divisions of anatomical pathology, including biopsy, surgical pathology, cytology, and autopsy

Image-Guided BiopsyAbiopsyis a small sample of tissue or fluid taken from the body. This sample can then be studied in a laboratory.

If You Are Having a BiopsyQuestions for the doctor:What type of biopsy will I have?Why do I need a biopsy?

Detailed information on biopsy and the biopsy report

A medical procedure used to diagnose a condition. Most biopsies involve taking a small piece of skin or muscle under a local anesthetic. When the cells to be analyzed are accessible by needle, the biopsy specimen may be removed with a hollow aspiration needle, which is used to suck out the sample of cells. Aspirations are typically performed with local anesthesia; in addition, ultrasound imagery or other scanning devices may aid in locating the cells of interest. In cases where the cells are not accessible by needle, a longer tube called an endoscope may be inserted into the body with forceps attached for acquiring the specimen. Biopsy analysis is used in diagnosing cancer and muscular dystrophy.

A skin lesion biopsy is the removal of a piece of skin to diagnose or rule out an illness.

A skin biopsy is a procedure in which a small piece of living skin is removed from the body for examination, usually under a microscope, to establish a precise diagnosis. Skin biopsies are usually brief, straightforward procedures performed by a skin specialist (dermatologist) or family physician.

Urinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds that pass through the urine.

Urinalysis is a diagnostic physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of a urine sample (specimen). Specimens can be obtained by normal emptying of the bladder (voiding) or by a hospital procedure called catheterization.

A urinalysis is a group of manual and/or automated qualitative and semi-quantitative tests performed on a urine sample. A routine urinalysis usually includes the following tests: color, transparency, specific gravity, pH, protein, glucose, ketones, blood, bilirubin, nitrite, urobilinogen, and leukocyte esterase. Some laboratories include a microscopic examination of urinary sediment with all routine urinalysis tests. If not, it is customary to perform the microscopic exam, if transparency, glucose, protein, blood, nitrite, or leukocyte esterase is abnormal.

Urinalysis is an important test used in diagnosing diseases of the genitourinary tract. Urine is examined for pH and specific gravity by chemical and direct microscopic methods. The presence and concentration of various chemicals such as proteins, ketones, bilirubin, glucose, and nitrite are measured. Chemical metabolites also may be screened through urinalysis. In urinalysis, microscopic examination is performed to quantify the cellular urinary components, including red and white blood cells, fungi, and bacteria. The presence and concentration of cellular components, combined with the results of chemical analyses, give important clues for diagnosis of genitourinary diseases. B IJAN S HEKARRIZ M ARSHALL L. S TOLLER ( SEE ALSO : Genitourinary Disease ; Urine Cytology ; Urine Dipstick )

Urine typically contains epithelial cells shed from the urinary tract. Urine cytology evaluates this urinary sediment for the presence of cancerous cells from the lining of the urinary tract, and it is a convenient noninvasive technique for follow-up analysis of patients treated for urinary tract cancers. For this process, urine must be collected in a reliable fashion, and if urine samples are inadequate, the urinary tract can be assessed via instrumentation. In urine cytology, collected urine is examined microscopically. One limitation, however, is the inability to definitively identify low-grade cancer cells and urine cytology is used mostly to identify high-grade tumors. B IJAN S HEKARRIZ M ARSHALL L. S TOLLER ( SEE ALSO : Genitourinary Disease ; Urinalysis )

A urine dipstick is a colorimetric chemical assay that can be used to determine the pH, specific gravity, protein, glucose, ketone, bilirubin, urobilinogen, blood, leukocyte, and nitrite levels of an individual's urine. It consists of a reagent stick-pad, which is immersed in a fresh urine specimen and then withdrawn. After predetermined times the colors of the reagent pad are compared to standardized reference charts. The urine dipstick offers an inexpensive and fast method to perform screening urinalyses, which help in identifying the presence of various diseases or health problems. This test should be interpreted with caution, however, due to numerous limitations, including inaccurate results due to medications and collection techniques. Abnormal values need to be confirmed with more precise quantitative measurements. B IJAN S HEKARRIZ M ARSHALL L. S TOLLER ( SEE ALSO : Genitourinary Disease ; Urinalysis )

A urinalysis is a group of manual and/or automated qualitative and semi-quantitative tests performed on a urine sample. A routine urinalysis usually includes the following tests: color, transparency, specific gravity, pH, protein, glucose, ketones, blood , bilirubin, nitrite, urobilinogen, and leukocyte esterase. Some laboratories include a microscopic examination of urinary sediment with all routine urinalysis tests. If not, it is customary to perform the microscopic exam, if transparency, glucose, protein, blood, nitrite, or leukocyte esterase is abnormal.

The urine specimen collection is a procedure used to obtain a sample of urine from a patient for diagnostic tests.

A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following: The number of red blood cells (RBCs; The number of white blood cells (WBCs; The total amount of hemoglobin in the blood; The fraction of the blood composed of red blood cells (hematocrit; The size of the red blood cells (mean corpuscular volume, or MCV. The CBC test also provides specific information the size and hemoglobin content of individual red blood cells. This is determined from the additional following measurements: Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH; Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC. The platelet count is also usually included in the CBC. See also: Red blood cell (RBC) count; White blood cell (WBC) count.

One of the most commonly ordered clinical laboratory tests, a blood count, also called a complete blood count (CBC), is a basic evaluation of the cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) suspended in the liquid part of the blood (plasma). It involves determining the numbers, concentrations, and conditions of the different types of blood cells.

A complete blood count (CBC) is a series of tests used to evaluate the composition and concentration of the cellular components of blood. It consists of the following tests: red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) count, and platelet count; measurement of hemoglobin and mean red cell volume; classification of white blood cells (WBC differential); and calculation of hematocrit and red blood cell indices . The hematocrit is the percentage of blood by volume that is occupied by the red cells (i.e., the packed red cell volume). Red blood cell indices are calculations derived from the red blood cell count, hemoglobin and hematocrit that aid in the diagnosis and classification of anemia.

A complete blood count (CBC) is a series of tests used to evaluate the composition and concentration of the cellular components of blood. It consists of the following tests: red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) count, and platelet count; measurement of hemoglobin and mean red cell volume; classification of white blood cells (WBC differential); and calculation of hematocrit and red blood cell indices . The hematocrit is the percentage of blood by volume that is occupied by the red cells (i.e., the packed red cell volume). Red blood cell indices are calculations derived from the red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit that aid in the diagnosis and classification of anemia.

The clinical laboratory test that evaluates the three main cellular components of peripheral blood (red cells, white cells, and platelets) is called the "complete blood count" (CBC). It is used commonly to assess whether a patient is anemic (low red cell count), has an infection (increased white blood cells), or has abnormal blood coagulation (platelet levels). The CBC examines the total number of red blood cells (RBC) and the RBC indices, including: the mean corpuscular volume (MCV); the concentration of hemoglobin, measured by the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and its concentration (MCHC); and the hematocrit, which is the mean packed-cell volume of red cells. The total white blood cell (leukocyte) count, the various types of leukocytes (lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils), and platelets are also measured. J ONATHAN R. K ELLER M ARIAESTELA O RTIZ ( SEE ALSO : Hematocrit ; Hemoglobin ; Laboratory Services )