Rapid advances in diagnostic medicine have made it crucial for consumers to have access
to up-to-date, objective information about the tools commonly used by physicians,
hospitals, and commercial labs. Fully revised and updated, The Patient’s
Guide to Medical Tests, Second Edition provides a basic understanding of these
diagnostic procedures.
Organized alphabetically, this comprehensive guide provides information on more than
1,000 commonly prescribed tests, including the CAT scan, MRI, PSA blood test for prostate
cancer, HIV test, mammography, fetal monitoring, and the pulmonary function test. Each
entry includes a description of the test, patient preparation required, a description of
the procedure itself, the reference range, what abnormal values may signify, and the cost
of each test. An extensive glossary of medical terms translates professional terminology
into accessible language, as does an appendix on medical abbreviations and symbols. A
helpful "Comments" section notes any necessary precautions to take when
evaluating a procedure’s results as well as the possible risks to patients.
New and updated coverage include:
- Information on which tests have been "retired" as well as new testing methods
that have been introduced
- New tests in clinical cardiology
- Preferred imaging techniques
- The impact of the Internet on diagnostic testing
- The growing direct-to-consumer movement in medical testing.