Category: oncology
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Back Pain
Back pains are very common. It is one of the top 10 reason to see a doctor. Back pains can be mechanical such as herniated disc or can be inflammatory such as in Spondyloarthritis. Mechanical back pain improves with rest but becomes worse with activity. Inflammatory back pain becomes worse with rest and improves with…
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Potency of Topical Steroid Creams or Ointments
Topical Steroids are categorized into seven groups with last group being least potent. Points to remember about topical steroids are: 1. Always start with the least potent product that can do the job as skin penetration varies in different ares of the body. 2. Ointments are more potent than creams except for the super potency…
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Who should get frequent skin examination?
1. Having family history of melanoma or skin cancer 2. Having Melanoma before 3. Previous skin cancer history 4. History of frequent sunburns 5. Tanning history or UV light exposure 6. Red hair 7. light hair 8. Fair skin 9. light colored eyes 10. History of atypical moles or nevi 11. Immunosuppressed or transplant patients
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Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma – Occurs in fair skin individuals – Usually in sun exposed areas – Second Most common skin cancer – Higher risk of spread to other areas – Increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma skin occurs with smoking, exposure to arsenic, ionizing radiation, ultraviolet light, and infection with human papillomavirus. Treatment: 1. Dermatology…
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Actinic Keratoses
Actinic Keratoses 1. Precancerous 2. Scaly appearance 3. Sun-exposed area 4. Can turn into squamous cell cancer 5. May resemble a benign condition called Squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen disease) Treatment: 1. Dermatology consult 2. Biopsy 3. Local treatment mostly
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Basal Cell Cancer
Basal cell cancer: – Occurs in fair skin individuals – Usually in sun exposed areas – Most common skin cancer Types of basal cell cancers; 1. Noduar type and this is most common and not aggressive. 2. Superficial type is not aggressive but hard to see 3. Morpheaform type is aggressive 4. Infiltrative type is…
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Complete blood count with Differential (CBC with DIFF): Eosinophils
Eosinophils are not as common as the other white cells. Eosinophils are increased in: – Allergic conditions such as hay fever, rhinitis, eczema – Parasitic infections such as trichinosis, Ascariasis – Fungal infections as in aspergillosis – Autoimmune diseases such as vasculitis – Medications such as Aspirin – Lymphomas such as Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Leukemia, Mastocytosis…
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Complete blood count with Differential (CBC with DIFF): Monocytes
Monocytes are the third most common white cells (<10%). Monocytes are increased in: – Infections especially brucellosis, shingles, TB, bacterial endocarditis, Malaria – Medications such as steroids – Autoimmune diseases, sarcoidosis, – Neutropenia – Colitis – Leukemia, Lymphoma Monocytes are decreased in: – Hairy cell leukemia
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Complete blood count with Differential (CBC with DIFF): Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes are the second most common white cells (20-40%) after neutrophils. They include: – T-cells – B-cells – Natural killer Cells Lymphocytes are increased in: – Infections especially viral infections – Medications – Autoimmune disease – Overactive thyroid – Colitis – Lymphatic leukemia Lymphocytes are decreased in: – Infections – Medications such as steroids or…
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Complete blood count with Differential (CBC with DIFF): Neutrophils
Neutrophils are the most common of the white cells (60-70%). Neutrophils in circulation are mostly mature cells and are involved primarily in fighting infections. Immature Neutrophils, also called bands, appear with severe infections when there is recruitment of neutrophils mature and immature cells in a massive scale. When there are more than 10% immature neutrophils…
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