This user-friendly book is written to help consumers understand medical clinical laboratory tests and surgical pathology reports. The orientation is toward patients with a medical problem, the worried well who probably dont have a problem, and the medical professionals and allied health providers who do not realize that a huge information gap exist between themselves and their patients. The chapter describing the shortcomings of laboratory test report forms is aimed directly at doctors, laboratorians, and other health care providers with examples of laboratory test report formats that can improve communication between the consumer, the clinical laboratory, and the health care provider. ADVANCE PRAISE FOR Understanding Your Medical Laboratory Tests and Surgical Biopsy Reports "A great resource for the lay population..... and everyone who works at our Clinic should have a copy of this humorous, incisive look into the mysterious world of lab tests!" Penny Durgin, A.D.N.P., Nurse Practitioner "Great idea for a book! Im sure it will be a great help to patients trying to interpret their lab test results, and it will surely be an aid to medial caretakers in discussing test reports with their patients - and it will be on my bookshelf!" Elwin Falkenham, M.D., Family Practitioner "....the explanations of the lab tests make for fast, easy reading. I hope many doctors and nurse practitioners will read it and learn a few things they really need to know in dealing with apprehensive patients." Annette McMahon, High School teacher "The reach of the subject of laboratory testing is really comprehensive. A reader can go to whatever depth he or she chooses; many will find satisfaction in the informal style and avoidance of medical language that is incomprehensible to patients." John L. Meyer II, M.D., FASCP, Community hospital Pathologist "Using this book, patients will be able to understand the significance of their laboratory tests results. So often explanations from doctors in their offices are too hurried, too technical, and too upsetting for patients to comprehend what their tests really mean." April Whithed, MT(ASCP), Laboratory Manager

Getting the right diagnosis is a key aspect of health care - it provides an explanation of a patient's health problem and informs subsequent health care decisions. The diagnostic process is a complex, collaborative activity that involves clinical reasoning and information gathering to determine a patient's health problem. According to Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, diagnostic errors-inaccurate or delayed diagnoses-persist throughout all settings of care and continue to harm an unacceptable number of patients. It is likely that most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with devastating consequences. Diagnostic errors may cause harm to patients by preventing or delaying appropriate treatment, providing unnecessary or harmful treatment, or resulting in psychological or financial repercussions. The committee concluded that improving the diagnostic process is not only possible, but also represents a moral, professional, and public health imperative. Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, a continuation of the landmark Institute of Medicine reports To Err Is Human (2000) and Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001), finds that diagnosis-and, in particular, the occurrence of diagnostic errorsâ€"has been largely unappreciated in efforts to improve the quality and safety of health care. Without a dedicated focus on improving diagnosis, diagnostic errors will likely worsen as the delivery of health care and the diagnostic process continue to increase in complexity. Just as the diagnostic process is a collaborative activity, improving diagnosis will require collaboration and a widespread commitment to change among health care professionals, health care organizations, patients and their families, researchers, and policy makers. The recommendations of Improving Diagnosis in Health Care contribute to the growing momentum for change in this crucial area of health care quality and safety.

Rosai and Ackerman’s Surgical Pathology delivers the authoritative guidance you need to overcome virtually any challenge in surgical pathology. Recognized globally for his unmatched expertise, preeminent specialist Juan Rosai, MD brings you state-of-the-art coverage of the latest advancements in immunohistochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, prognostic/predictive markers, and much more - equipping you to effectively and efficiently diagnose the complete range of neoplastic and non-neoplastic entities. Efficiently review the clinical presentation, gross and microscopic features, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical findings, differential diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis for virtually every pathologic entity. Compare your findings to more than 3,300 outstanding illustrations that capture the characteristic presentation of every type of lesion. Avoid diagnostic pitfalls using Dr. Rosai's expert observations on what to look for, what to be careful about, and which presentations can be misleading. Find quick answers on tumor staging, quality control procedures, and the handling of gross specimens through valuable appendices. Make optimal use of all the very latest advances including our increased understanding of the genetic basis of inherited and acquired disease, the newest molecular genetic and immunohistochemical techniques, and the most recent WHO disease classification schemes.

After her diagnosis of hormone-negative breast cancer, health journalist Patricia Prijatel did what any reporter would do: start investigating the disease, how it occurs, how it's treated, and how to keep it from recurring. While she learned that important research on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) was emerging, she found a noticeable lack of resources on the disease, which differs from hormone-positive breast cancer in important ways, including prognosis and treatment options. Triple-negative breast cancer disproportionately affects younger women and African-American women-and some forms of it can be more dangerous than other types of breast cancer. But there are many reasons to be hopeful, as Prijatel shows in this book. Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer delivers research-based information on the biology of TNBC; the role of genetics, family history, and race; how to navigate treatment options; understanding a pathology report; and a plethora of strategies to reduce the risk of recurrence, including diet and lifestyle changes. In clear, approachable language, Prijatel provides a fact-filled guide based on a vast array of scientific studies. Woven throughout the book are stories of women who have faced TNBC. These are mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters who went through a variety of medical treatments and then got on with life--one competes in triathlons, two had babies after being treated with chemo, one got remarried in her 50s, and one just celebrated the 30th birthday of the son she was nursing when she was diagnosed. Writing with honesty and humor, Prijatel delivers an inspiring message--that TNBC is a disease to take seriously, with proper and occasionally aggressive treatment, but it is not automatically a killer. Most women diagnosed with the disease survive and go on to live full lives. Surviving Triple-Negative Breast Cancer is a roadmap for women who want to be empowered through their treatment and recovery.

This book, written by world authorities in the field, is a comprehensive, up-to-date guide to the specialty of Oral Medicine, which is concerned with the diagnosis, prevention, and predominantly non-surgical management of medically related disorders and conditions affecting the oral and maxillofacial region. The pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of all relevant diseases and disorders are described with the aid of a wealth of clinical cases and illustrations that enable the reader to appreciate the diversity and potential complexity of Oral Medicine. In addition to the wide-ranging coverage of oral conditions, separate sections are devoted to bone and cutaneous pathology and to orofacial pain and its management, in addition to dental sleep medicine. The clinician who treats Oral Medicine patients will find this book to be an excellent aid to optimal management grounded in a sound knowledge of basic science and the dental and medical aspects of each disorder. In addition, it will serve as an outstanding textbook for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Part of the highly regarded Biopsy Interpretation Series, Biopsy Interpretation of the Liver, 4th Edition, provides practical, highly illustrated information on the diagnosis and prognosis of the full range of biopsies of the liver. Practical, well-organized, and highly readable, this fully revised volume by Dr. Michael S. Torbenson addresses both common and unusual issues that arise in the day-to-day interpretation of liver biopsies, teaching the best diagnostic practices as well as how to avoid the most common pitfalls.