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Intraductal Hyperplasia

Intraductal proliferations of mammary epithelium of the breast form a spectrum that begins with intraductal hyperplasia without atypia (also known as conventional ductal hyperplasia), continues with atypical intraductal hyperplasia, and ends with ductal carcinoma in situ.

19 Aug 2016

Atypical Hyperplasia - Ductal and Lobular

Atypical hyperplasia is a term which refers to an accumulation of abnormal cells in the breast tissue. It is not cancer, but can be a pre-cancerous condition where the abnormal cells causing hyperplasia keep dividing in an uncontrolled manner. It may lead to non-invasive or invasive breast cancer in the long term.

19 Aug 2016

Axilla - Anatomy

The axilla is the space in the interval marking the junction of the upper arm and the chest wall. It is a key area because many important neurovascular structures pass through it. It is pyramidal in shape.

19 Aug 2016

Nursing Specializations

The nursing profession has evolved considerably over the last century, including the introduction of specializations for nurses, with specific knowledge and experience to practice in certain fields. There are now many possible areas that a nurse may choose to specialize in, and these continue to grow.

19 Aug 2016

Support for Selective Mutism

Selective mutism has garnered a lot of attention as a childhood disorder that can have significant repercussions on the children and their families. Children with selective mutism need the help of a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals that includes a pediatrician, child psychologist or psychiatrist, and a speech – language therapist. The school and family of the affected child should work closely with the health care team for the treatment to be effective.

19 Aug 2016

Behavioral Therapy for Selective Mutism

Treatment of selective mutism mainly involves behavioral therapy. Affected children need the help of a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals that includes a pediatrician, child psychologist or psychiatrist, and a speech- language pathologist (SLP).

19 Aug 2016

Selective Mutism Prognosis

With early and appropriate treatment, selective mutism can be successfully treated. Prognosis is excellent in children and adolescents who receive timely treatment for the disorder. However, in the absence of medical intervention, the condition will persist and get complicated as affected children get older.

19 Aug 2016

Causes and Risk Factors for Selective Mutism

There are several risk factors for selective mutism, all of which play a key role in the development of the disorder. These factors include a family history of anxiety, speech issues, language problems, and a tendency to avoid unfamiliar settings. There is no evidence that abuse or neglect can cause selective mutism in children or adolescents.

19 Aug 2016

Diagnosing Selective Mutism

Diagnosis of selective mutism is mostly on the basis of the patient’s clinical history. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) plays a key role in the diagnosis of the condition.

19 Aug 2016

Selective Mutism Anxiety Disorder

Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder primarily affecting children. It is characterized by the inability of the child to speak in select situations, while being talkative otherwise. It was earlier called elective mutism.

19 Aug 2016

Autologous versus Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction

Following a mastectomy, breast reconstruction may be performed using (1) prosthetic implants made of either saline or silicone or (2) autologous tissue, which means tissue taken from elsewhere in the patient’s body. Today, prosthetic reconstructions are more popular than autologous reconstruction.

18 Aug 2016

What is Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) and How is it Measured in Blood Tests?

The number of neutrophils in the blood is absolute neutrophil count (ANC), and measures the percentage of neutrophils in the differential white blood cell count.

18 Aug 2016

Solitary Kidney and High Blood Pressure Monitoring

A solitary kidney refers to the situation when a person has only one kidney or has two kidneys, but only one of them is functional. Although people with a solitary kidney can lead a normal and healthy life, some people with this condition are at a slightly increased risk of losing some kidney function later in life.

18 Aug 2016

Coarctation of the Aorta

Coarctation is the term used to describe a narrowing in the wall of a vessel. Coarctation of the aorta is narrowing of the aorta, the main artery that delivers oxygen-rich blood from the heart, around the body.

18 Aug 2016

How and Why is a Punch Biopsy Done? (Skin)

This article details the punch biopsy procedure, a key diagnostic tool for dermatologists to assess suspicious skin lesions and inflammatory conditions.

18 Aug 2016

Atypical Hyperplasia and Breast Cancer Risk

Hyperplasia is an abnormality in cell growth which results in a greater number of cells forming in the ducts or lobules of the breast, but without other abnormality. Atypia is a term which denotes the presence of significant abnormality in the appearance of the cells or the way they are arranged, as compared to normal cells. Atypia and hyperplasia can occur independent of each other, and are considered reversible, though the exact mechanisms by which they revert to normal are unknown.

18 Aug 2016

Atypical Hyperplasia

Hyperplasia is an abnormal but non-cancerous pattern of cell growth within the ducts or lobes of the breast. A hyperplastic breast shows a higher number of cells and layers in the ducts and lobules than the normal 2 layers of cells on microscopic examination. If the arrangement of the cells in the proliferative region appears more or less similar to the normal cell pattern, it is called usual hyperplasia. If the growth pattern is abnormally disorganized, it is called atypical hyperplasia.

18 Aug 2016

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) Testing

The glomeruli are tiny tubules that filter blood in the kidneys. Muscles produce a waste product called creatinine, which is removed from blood plasma by the kidneys during this glomerular filtration process. Creatinine is then passed into the urine and not reabsorbed by the glomeruli to any significant degree.

17 Aug 2016

Glomerular Diseases

Each kidney is made up of approximately one million glomeruli. These filter nitrogenous wastes (like urea and creatinine) from the blood, passing through the tuft of capillaries that make up a glomerulus, along with excess water. This water passes into a collecting tubule and eventually becomes urine.

17 Aug 2016