Diagnostics: An A-To-Z Nursing Guide to Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures

This is an excellent reference guide on the rationale andspecific details of diagnostic medical tests both simple andcomplex. The authors provide an extensive forward, a discussionof collection techniques and precautions. For instance, thebone marrow aspiration and biopsy is a moderately complicatedprocedure aimed at diagnosing leukemias, granulomas, perniciousanemia, primary and metastatic tumors, the staging of Hodgkin'sdisease and evaluation of chemotherapy effectiveness. The procedure is contraindicated in patients with severe bleedingdisorders. Yellow marrow contains fat cells and connectivetissue; whereas, red marrow contains hematopoiec cells, fat cellsand connective tissue. A detailed Histology of the bone marrowspecimen may detect myelofibrosis, granulomas, lymphomas orcancer. A hemotology blood and bone marrow report is generatedby the blood laboratory. It shows details of the cell typeand applicable levels of myeloblasts, promyelocytes, myelocytes, metamyelocytes, polymorphs, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes,monocytes, plasma cells, pronormoblasts, basophilic normoblasts,polychrom-Normoblasts, Orthochrom. Normoblasts and Reticulumcellular structures. A diagnostician's detailed interpretationusually follows the detailed description of cellular types.The SPRINGHOUSE work explains the various procedures andbenefits of doing a plethora of diagnostic tests. This workis invaluable in helping the patient understand the procedureand its implications, benefits and contraindications. Theinformation content in this book can help the patientimmeasurably in formulating intelligent questions to poseto the medical provider on a continuing basis. This book isworth the price for all of the above reasons. It is a worthyaddition to any personal medical reference library.