Rheumatology

Rheumatological investigations 686 Inflammatory markers 686 Haematology 688 Biochemistry tests 689 Autoantibodies 691 Arthrocentesis 694 Neurophysiology 695 Diagnostic imaging 696 Investigations in rheumatology are important not only in diagnosis, but also in assessing disease activity and monitoring treatment. They are complementary to a careful history and physical examination, and should only be requested in the correct clinical context where results are likely to affect management. In isolation, ‘abnormal’ results can lead to unwarranted anxiety, investigations and treatment....

Neurology

Lumbar puncture 546 Skull radiograph 552 Ultrasound 554 Angiography 555 Myelography 557 Radionuclide scans 558 Computed tomography 560 Magnetic resonance imaging or nuclear magnetic resonance imaging 564 Nerve conduction studies 566 Electromyogram (EMG) 570 Electroencephalogram (EEG) 572 Electroencephalogram: abnormalities 574 Electroencephalogram: in epilepsy 575 Electroencephalogram: how to use ...

Gastroenterology

Endoscopy 464 Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy 466 Conventional enteroscopy 468 Double-balloon enteroscopy 468 Wireless capsule endoscopy 469 Flexible sigmoidoscopy & colonoscopy 470 Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography 471 Endoscopic ultrasound 472 Tests for Helicobacter pylori 473 Faecal occult blood 475 Serological & faecal testing in inflammatory bowel disease 476 Tumour markers ...

Haematology

Full blood count 212 Red cell parameters 214 White cells 216 Platelet count 217 Peripheral blood film 218 Red cell morphology 219 Parasites on the blood film & marrow 222 White blood cell morphology 224 Assessment of iron status 226 Assessment of vitamin B12...

Nuclear medicine

Introduction to nuclear medicine 794 Bone scintigraphy: bone scan 796 Reticuloendothelial system: bone marrow scintigraphy 798 Cerebral blood flow imaging 800 Brain transporter imaging 802 CSF shunt patency 804 Thyroid scintigraphy 806 Parathyroid scintigraphy 808 Metaiodobenzylguanidine imaging 809 Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy 812 Radioiodine thyroid cancer imaging ...

Radiology

Radiology & the role of imaging 706 Plain X-rays 708 Digital radiology 709 Chest X-ray: useful landmarks 710 Chest radiograph 712 Patterns of lobar collapse 717 Cardiac enlargement 719 Computed tomography of the thorax 722 Abdominal X-ray: useful landmarks 724 Plain abdominal X-ray 726 Barium studies ...

Poisoning & overdose

General principles 654 Samples of medicolegal importance 656 Methods used in analytical toxicology 656 Brainstem death testing & organ donation 658 Interpretation of arterial blood gases in poisoned patients 659 Amphetamines & derivatives 660 Benzylpiperazine 661 Anticonvulsants 661 Benzodiazepines 662 Carbon monoxide 663 Cocaine 664...

Cardiology

Cardiac catheterization 402 Cardiac markers of myocardial necrosis 406 Cardiac volumetric imaging: magnetic resonance & computed tomography 408 Echocardiography 416 Electrocardiogram 438 Electrocardiographic monitoring 446 Exercise testing 450 Myocardial perfusion imaging 454 Radionuclide ventriculography 458 Swan–Ganz catheterization 460 Tilt table testing 461 Cardiac catheterization is an invasive procedure during which catheters are placed within the cardiac chambers, coronary arteries and great vessels to provide information on cardiac anatomy, pressures, disease states, function, and oxygen saturations....

Infectious & tropical diseases

Introduction to infectious diseases 352 Investigating the infectious diseases/tropical medicine case 357 Culture techniques 358 Serology 364 Antigen tests 369 Collection of specimens 370 Molecular diagnostics 373 Haematology 375 Radiology 377 Gastrointestinal tract investigations 379 Immunology 381 Biochemical tests 382 Tissue biopsy & deep aspiration specimens ...

Immunology & allergy

Serum immunoglobulins 310 Immunoglobulin G subclasses 312 Evaluation of specific antibody production (anti-bacterial and anti-viral antibodies) 312 Immunoglobulin D 315 Electrophoresis & immunofixation 315 Serum free light chains 317 ‘Bence Jones proteins’; urine electrophoresis and immunofixation 317 Cryoglobulins 317 β‎2-microglobulin 318 Acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum amyloid A) ...