UNIT 5: DIAGNOSIS PART 2

Making a correct diagnosis is a very responsible task any time a patient consults a
physician, regardless of the supposed seriousness of the symptoms. Forming the
right one will allow the patient to recover quickly or might even save his or her life,
whereas making a mistake might lead to dramatic consequences.

Centuries ago, when physicians had very primitive tools at their disposal or had none
at all, taking a patient's medical history was sometimes the only way
to identify diseases patients were suffering from. These days, however, there are
many modern diagnostic techniques that utilize cutting-edge devices and tools,
which help in diagnosis and keeping people healthy. Let's take a closer look at some
of them.

The choice of a diagnostic technique depends on the symptoms a patient

experiences. For example, if a female patient comes to consult a GP, concerned
about a lump on her breast she discovered when she was performing self-
examination, the GP will suggest doing a mammogram, which will allow a specialist
to determine what the lump is exactly and if any further tests need to be done. If the
mammogram indicates the presence of a tumor, then a biopsy is needed to
determine whether the tumor is malignant or not.

Biopsy is not the only technique employed in case of a suspicion of cancer. The use
of a particular method or device is determined by the patient's symptoms, results of
the tests and the location of the tumor. For instance, if there is a suspicion of a colon
cancer, an endoscopy is performed, which involves inserting a tool directly into the
organ (in this case the colon). In the case of women, a common screening method
used in order to detect cancerous or pre-cancerous changes in the female
reproductive system is called a Pap test, named after a Greek Doctor Georgios
Papanikolaou, who invented it.

Some techniques are less invasive and do not require putting anything into the body
or removing anything from it. For example, if doctors suspect a brain tumor, they will
recommend tomography, performance of which will result in a detailed scan of the
brain. Tomography belongs to a group of non-invasive techniques which use X-rays
to produce images, called radiography, which also includes taking an X-ray in the
case of a bone fracture. Although images produced through radiography are
commonly referred to as 'X-rays', some professionals argue that they should be
called 'radiographs', as 'x-rays' are just photons of energy and cannot be seen by the
naked eye.
There are more non-invasive techniques used in case of various medical conditions.
The electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of them. It is a test, which records the
electrical activity of the heart, used to detect and study such heart problems as a
heart attack or arrhythmia. Another one is a blood culture, performed to test for and
find an infection in the blood caused by bacteria or fungi. Such tests are invaluable
tools , as they make it possible to verify and confirm the doctor's diagnosis and thus
assure the patient that the treatment is appropriate before the patient gives
their consent for further treatment.

The vast majority of the aforementioned diagnostic methods are adopted in case of a
suspicion of a disease or disorder. Nevertheless, there are methods employed in less
depressing, more optimistic circumstances, such as the use of ultrasound during
pregnancy, to produce images of an unborn baby still in its mother's womb.

Besides self-examination, all of the methods described in the article require a visit

to a specialist clinic or a hospital unit and are sometimes an unpleasant or painful
experience. Therefore, we should not forget to go for regular check-ups at local
surgeries so as not to lead to a situation when they will be necessary.

medical history - the past and present of a patient, which may

contain important information on their health
Being an account of all medical events and problems a person has experienced,
medical history enables the physician to form a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Identify - to recognize something and understand what it is
The purpose of this leaflet is to help you identify pre-diabetes symptoms.
Utilize - to use something
Computed to mography utilizes x-rays that rotate around a patient in order to produce
cross-sectional images.
GP (general practitioner) - a physician who does not specialize in any particular
field of medicine
As I was feeling a bit unwell, I made an appointment with my general practitioner.

Mammogram - an X-ray of the breast taken in order to help a

professional decide whether a lump in the breast is a gland, a cyst or a tumor
When the mammogram result indicates the probability of cancer, biopsy is performed
next.

Biopsy - a test in which a tissue sample is removed and examined for the
presence of a disease
To rule out the possibility of cancer, a biopsy must be performed.
Endoscopy - examination of the inside of the body by means of a lighted,
flexible instrument
The stomach may be examined by means of endoscopy in case of symptoms in the
digestive system.

Screening - a test done to check for a particular disease

She is worried as she has discovered a lump on her breast during routine screening.
Pap test - a test for cervical cancer which involves the microscopic
examination of cells collected from the cervix
Most women aged 21-65 should have pap test performed as part of routine health
care.
Invasive - surgery involving putting something into the body or cutting into
the body
Endoscopy is less invasive than open surgery.
Tomography - the process of generating a two-dimensional image of a
section of a three-dimensional object
In case of cancer, tomography is used to help diagnose tumors & detect abnormal
growths.
Radiography - obtaining film records of internal structures of the body
Medical radiography is done using X-rays which pass through the body and act on a
special film.
ECG (electrocardiogram) - a test in which the electrical activity of the heart is
measured to check its condition
An ECG is performed when a patient reports symptoms of myocardial infarction.

Record - a written account of a transaction

The auditors went through every record of sale over the last decade before they were
satisfied.

blood culture - a test performed to detect if microorganisms such as

bacteria and fungi are present in the circulatory system
Results from a blood culture can identify the type of microorganisms responsible for
the infection.
Consent -permission given by a patient, normally on a signed paper
We need your written consent, sir, to begin the treatment
Ultrasound - high-frequency sound waves emitted by a device, which
bounce off tissues and are converted into a picture
Ultrasound is commonly used during pregnancy to examine a fetus.

self-examination - the process of checking parts of your body

yourself for signs of a disease
Regular self-examination facilitates early detection of any changes and greatly
improves the likelihood of successful treatment.
check-up - an examination performed by a doctor to make sure a patient is
healthy
Everyone should have regular check-ups at a GPs' surgery.