Lehigh Valley Hospital: When It Matters Most
lvh.org home page Careers at LVH Education @ LVH For Professionals working with LVH
Health Encyclopedia

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O
P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Hematology

What is hematology?

Hematology is the study of blood and its disorders. Hematologists, board-certified internists, look specifically at blood components such as blood count, and blood and bone marrow cells. Hematological tests can help diagnose anemia, hemophilia, blood-clotting disorders, and leukemia.

What is the difference between a hematologist and a hematopathologist?

A hematologist is usually a board-certified internist who has completed additional years of training in hematology. The hematologist generally focuses on diagnosing and managing hematologic disease, especially tumors, and other cancers.

The hematopathologist is usually board-certified in both anatomical and clinical pathology and has additional years of training in hematopathology. Hematopathology is not only the study of disease of the blood and bone marrow, but also of the organs and tissues that use blood cells to perform their physiologic functions, such as the lymph nodes, the spleen, thymus, and other lymphoid tissue. The hematopathologist focuses on the diagnosis of conditions of the hematopoietic and lymphocyte-rich tissues.

Common hematology tests:

Test
Uses
Complete blood count (CBC), which includes:
  • white blood cell count (WBC)
  • red blood cell count (RBC)
  • platelet count
  • hematocrit red blood cell volume (HCT)
  • hemoglobin concentration (HB) - the oxygen-carrying pigment in red blood cells
  • differential blood count
To aid in diagnosing anemia, certain cancers of the blood, and to monitor blood loss and infection
Platelet count To diagnose and/or to monitor bleeding and clotting disorders
Prothrombin time (PT) To evaluate bleeding and clotting disorders and to monitor anticoagulation (anti-clotting) therapies
Urinalysis, which includes physical examination of color, pH level, and gravity; chemical analysis for blood, proteins, glucose, and other substances; and microscopic examination of the red and white blood cells, bacteria, and other substances To diagnose kidney and bladder infections and other diseases

Click here to view the
Online Resources of Pathology

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O
P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

As a service to our community, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network purchases the content under "Diseases & Conditions" from Greystone.net, a provider of health care information for consumers.

ARTICLE TOOLS:

email this article to a friend print this article    Del.icio.us   Stumble It!

Search by last name: and/or select a specialty:
Network-employed physicians
Advanced Search






hon cod ©2008 Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network
LVH Info Line: 610-402-CARE
Cedar Crest & I-78, P.O. Box 689, Allentown, PA 18105-1556

Lehigh Valley Hospital has campuses in Allentown and Bethlehem, Pa. and serves the Pennsylvania communities of Easton, Doylestown, Quakertown, Hazelton, Lehighton, Perkasie, Pottstown, Pottsville, Reading, Scranton, Wilkes Barre, Stroudsburg, and the Poconos and also Phillipsburg and Flemington, N.J., and western New Jersey. You don't have to travel to Philadelphia or New York for quality health care.

 
Increase the Size of Text by clicking here. Descrease the Size of Text by clicking here Email this story to family and friends. Print this story formatted for your printer.