Hematology
Hematology is a branch of medicine concerning the study of blood, blood-forming organs such as bone marrow, and blood-related disorders and diseases. The word “heme” comes from the Greek word for blood. Hematological tests are used to detect and diagnose diseases such as hemophilia, anemia, leukemia, sickle-cell anemia, lymphomas, and several infections.
What is the difference between a hematologist and a hematopathologist?
- A hematologist is usually a board-certified internist or pediatrician who has completed additional years of training in hematology. The hematologist generally focuses on direct patient care and diagnosing and managing hematologic diseases, especially cancers.
- A 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. It is also the study of the organs and tissues that use blood cells to perform their physiologic functions. These include the lymph nodes, the spleen, the thymus, and other lymphoid tissue. The hematopathologist focuses on the diagnosis of conditions of the hematopoietic and lymphocyte-rich tissues. This is usually done by direct exam of tissue and blood in the lab.
Common hematology tests:
*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). This is the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells.
- Differential white blood count
- Red blood cell indices (measurements)
*Platelet count (usually done as part of the CBC): To diagnose and/or to monitor certain types of bleeding and clotting disorders
*Prothrombin time (PT) Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) *International Normalized Ratio (INR)