Diagnosing iron deficiency is usually straightforward—until inflammation enters the picture. In patients with chronic infections, autoimmune disease, cancer, or renal failure, interpreting iron studies becomes a clinical minefield. The most
When a patient presents with classic symptoms of thyroid dysfunction—fatigue, hair thinning, unexplained weight changes—but their TSH comes back within the reference range, it’s tempting to rule out thyroid disease
When faced with a patient presenting with fever, clinicians are often challenged to quickly determine the underlying cause: Is it bacterial, viral, or an inflammatory process? While white blood cell
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing has long been a mainstay in the early detection of prostate cancer. Over the years, however, its value has been hotly debated. Critics have raised concerns
A creatinine result of 1.4 mg/dL can set off clinical alarms, prompting concern for kidney dysfunction or chronic kidney disease (CKD). But what if that number reflects not the patient’s
Cervical dysplasia, a precancerous condition of the cervix, is a silent threat. It can progress without symptoms, and timely intervention is crucial to prevent the development of invasive cervical cancer.
A fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or core biopsy can be a turning point in a patient’s care—especially when cancer is suspected. These procedures are quick, minimally invasive, and provide essential tissue
Every clinician has faced it: the moment you open a lab report and see a result that doesn’t fit the clinical picture. Maybe it’s a potassium level that’s inexplicably high,
In today’s world of on-demand services, it’s tempting to think that healthcare—especially laboratory testing—should be just as accessible. Many commercial labs have adopted a “menu” approach, letting patients walk in
Every clinician, at some point in their career, has stared at a lab report and thought, “This doesn’t add up.” Maybe the numbers don’t fit the patient’s symptoms. Maybe a