Diagnosis of Lung conditions
Diagnostic Test list for Lung conditions:
The list of medical tests
mentioned in various sources as
used in the diagnosis of Lung conditions
includes:
Lung conditions Diagnosis: Book Excerpts
Diagnosis of Lung conditions: medical news summaries:
The following medical news items
are relevant to diagnosis and misdiagnosis issues for Lung conditions:
Diagnostic Tests for Lung conditions: Online Medical Books
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Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about diagnostis of Lung conditions.
Lung cancer:
Diagnosis
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Typical clinical findings may strongly suggest lung cancer, but firm diagnosis requires further evidence.
❑Chest X-ray usually shows an advanced lesion, but it can detect a lesion up to 2 years before symptoms appear. It also indicates tumor size and location.
❑ Sputum cytology, which is 75% reliable, requires a specimen coughed up from the lungs and tracheobronchial tree, not postnasal secretions or saliva.
❑ Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest may help to delineate the tumor's size and its relationship to surrounding structures.
❑ Bronchoscopy can locate the tumor site. Bronchoscopic washings provide material for cytologic and histologic examination. The flexible fiber-optic bronchoscope increases the test's effectiveness.
❑ Needle biopsy of the lungs uses biplane fluoroscopic visual control to detect peripherally located tumors. This allows firm diagnosis in 80% of patients.
❑ Tissue biopsy of accessible metastatic sites includes supraclavicular and mediastinal node and pleural biopsy. Directed needle biopsy may be performed in conjunction with CT scan.
❑Thoracentesis allows chemical and cytologic examination of pleural fluid.
Additional studies include preoperative mediastinoscopy or mediastinotomy to rule out involvement of mediastinal lymph nodes (which would preclude curative pulmonary resection).
Other tests to detect metastasis include bone scan, bone marrow biopsy (recommended in small cell carcinoma), CT scan of the brain or abdomen, and positron emission tomography.
After histologic confirmation, staging determines the extent of the disease and helps in planning the treatment and predicting the prognosis. (See Staging lung cancer.)
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Lung abscess:
Diagnosis
(Handbook of Diseases)
The following tests are used to diagnose a lung abscess:
❑ Auscultation of the chest may reveal crackles and decreased breath sounds.
❑ Chest X-ray shows a localized infiltrate with one or more clear spaces, usually containing air-fluid levels.
❑ Chest computed tomography scan confirms the presence of localized infiltrate or nodular density, occasionally with air-fluid level. Chest imaging may also identify airway masses or foreign bodies that have led to abscess formation.
❑ Percutaneous aspiration of an abscess or bronchoscopy may be used to obtain cultures to identify the causative organism. Bronchoscopy is only used if abscess resolution is eventful and the patient’s condition permits it.
❑ Blood cultures, Gram stain, and sputum culture are also used to detect the causative organism.
❑ White blood cell count commonly exceeds 10,000/µl.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Lung cancer:
Diagnosis
(Handbook of Diseases)
Typical signs and symptoms may strongly suggest lung cancer, but a firm diagnosis requires further evidence, including the following:
❑ Chest X-ray usually shows an advanced lesion, but it can detect a lesion up to 2 years before symptoms appear. It also indicates tumor size and location.
❑ Sputum cytology is marginally helpful in obtaining a diagnosis. It requires a specimen coughed up from the lungs and tracheobronchial tree, not postnasal secretions or saliva.
❑ Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest may help to delineate the tumor’s size and its relationship to surrounding structures.
❑ Bronchoscopy can locate the tumor site. Bronchoscopic washings provide material for cytologic and histologic examination. The flexible fiber-optic bronchoscope increases the test’s effectiveness.
❑ A needle biopsy of the lungs uses biplane fluoroscopic visual control or CT guidance to detect peripherally located tumors. This allows a firm diagnosis in 80% of patients.
❑ Tissue biopsy of accessible metastatic sites includes supraclavicular and mediastinal node and pleural biopsies.
❑ Thoracentesis allows chemical and cytologic examination of pleural fluid.
Additional studies include preoperative mediastinoscopy or mediastinotomy to rule out involvement of mediastinal lymph nodes (which would preclude curative pulmonary resection).
Other tests to detect metastasis include a bone scan, positron emission tomography scan, bone marrow biopsy (recommended in small cell carcinoma), and a CT scan of the brain or abdomen.
After histologic confirmation, staging determines the extent of the disease and helps in planning treatment and predicting the prognosis. (See Staging lung cancer.)
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
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