Diagnostic Tests for Lip symptoms

Diagnostic Test list for Lip symptoms:

The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Lip symptoms includes:

• Physical examination
  • Examine the lips
  • Examine the teeth and inside the mouth
  • Inspect for signs of dehydration - e.g. dry cracked lips, dry mouth and reduced saliva.
  • Inspect and tap each tooth for tenderness which may indicate a alveolar abscess
  • Feel cervical lymph nodes (glands) for enlargement - e.g. with lip cancers, herpes simplex labialis.
• Blood tests
  • Full blood test and ESR
  • Electrolytes, including calcium and phosphate
  • Renal function tests (renal failure is the most common cause of low calcium)
  • Thyroid function tests, if suspect myxedema
  • Syphilis serology, if indicated
  • Iron studies, if angular stomatitis
  • Vitamin B12 level, if angular stomatitis
  • Zinc level
  • PTH level - If PTH level is low must consider hypoparathyroidism (low parathyroid gland function).
  • Alkaline phosphatase level - Elevated in hypocalcemia due to malabsorption syndrome, rickets, osteomalacia, renal tubular acidosis and other chronic renal disease.
  • Rheumatoid factor, ANA antibodies, ENA antibodies, dsDNA antibodies, antinuclear and anticentromere antibodies to diagnose possible causes of Raynaud's phenomenon
  • Erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity ( Vitamin B2 status) - not widely available.
  • Erythrocyte aminotransferase activity (Vitamin B6 status) - not widely available.
• Urine tests
  • Urinalysis
  • 24 hour urinary calcium
• Patch testing - for allergic contact dermatitis.
• Radiological investigations
  • X-Ray of teeth
  • X-Ray of jaw
• Swab of any ulcer - for viral and bacterial culture.
• Skin biopsy - may be required to assist diagnosis.
• Skin scraping of the lip surface - if angular cheilitis and suspect Candida infection (not uncommon in people with HIV disease).

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