May 6th, 2022 - Diagnosis Neurology consultation A Mayo Clinic neurologist converses with a woman about her diagnosis. Often, people with cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) don't show any signs or symptoms. Your diagnosis may result from brain imaging for other neurological conditions. In some cases, specific symptoms may prompt your health care provider to pursue more extensive testing. Tests Depending o...

May 6th, 2022 - Overview Cranial sutures and fontanels Open pop-up dialog box Close Cranial sutures and fontanels Cranial sutures and fontanels Joints made of strong, fibrous tissue (cranial sutures) hold the bones of your baby's skull together. The sutures meet at the fontanels, the soft spots on your baby's head. The sutures remain flexible during infancy, allowing the skull to expand as the brain grows. The...

May 5th, 2022 - Overview Marfan syndrome is an inherited disorder that affects connective tissue — the fibers that support and anchor your organs and other structures in your body. Marfan syndrome most commonly affects the heart, eyes, blood vessels and skeleton. People with Marfan syndrome are usually tall and thin with unusually long arms, legs, fingers and toes. The damage caused by Marfan syndrome can be m...

May 5th, 2022 - Diagnosis Marfan syndrome can be challenging for doctors to diagnose because many connective tissue disorders have similar signs and symptoms. Even among members of the same family, the signs and symptoms of Marfan syndrome vary widely — both in their features and in their severity. Certain combinations of symptoms and family history must be present to confirm a diagnosis of Marfan syndrome. In...

May 5th, 2022 - Overview Marfan syndrome is an inherited disorder that affects connective tissue — the fibers that support and anchor your organs and other structures in your body. Marfan syndrome most commonly affects the heart, eyes, blood vessels and skeleton. People with Marfan syndrome are usually tall and thin with unusually long arms, legs, fingers and toes. The damage caused by Marfan syndrome can be m...

May 5th, 2022 - Diagnosis Several tests and procedures are used to determine whether you have H. pylori infection. Testing is important for detection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Repeat testing after treatment is important to be sure H. pylori is gone. Tests may be done using a stool sample, through a breath test and by an upper endoscopy exam. Stool tests Stool antigen test. This is the most common sto...

May 4th, 2022 - Diagnosis Your health care provider will ask about your medical history and examine your skin, possibly with a special lamp. The evaluation might also include a skin biopsy and blood tests. More Information Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test Complete blood count (CBC) Skin biopsy Treatment The choice of treatment depends on your age, how much skin is involved and where, how quickly the disease is ...

May 4th, 2022 - Diagnosis To diagnose dilated cardiomyopathy, your health care provider will do a physical exam and asks questions about your personal and family medical history. The provider will use a device called a stethoscope to listen to your heart and lungs. You may be referred to a doctor specializing in heart disease (cardiologist). Tests Tests to diagnose dilated cardiomyopathy include: Echocardiogra...

May 3rd, 2022 - Overview Renal artery stenosis Open pop-up dialog box Close Renal artery stenosis Renal artery stenosis In renal artery stenosis, one or both of the arteries leading to the kidneys becomes narrowed, preventing adequate blood flow to the kidneys. Renal artery stenosis is the narrowing of one or more arteries that carry blood to your kidneys (renal arteries). Narrowing of the arteries prevents en...

Apr 30th, 2022 - Diagnosis Tests to diagnose rectal cancer Colonoscopy Open pop-up dialog box Close Colonoscopy Colonoscopy During a colonoscopy, the doctor inserts a colonoscope into your rectum to check for abnormalities in your entire colon. Rectal cancer can be found during a screening test for colorectal cancer. Or it may be suspected based on your symptoms. Tests and procedures used to confirm the diagnos...

Apr 30th, 2022 - Overview Anterior prolapse (cystocele) Open pop-up dialog box Close Anterior prolapse (cystocele) Anterior prolapse (cystocele) A dropped or prolapsed bladder (cystocele) occurs when the bladder bulges into the vaginal space. It results when the muscles and tissues that support the bladder give way. Anterior vaginal prolapse, also known as a cystocele (SIS-toe-seel) or a prolapsed bladder, is w...

Apr 30th, 2022 - Overview Bartholin's cyst Open pop-up dialog box Close Bartholin's cyst Bartholin's cyst The Bartholin's glands are located on each side of the vaginal opening. They secrete fluid that helps lubricate the vagina. Sometimes the ducts of these glands become obstructed and fluid backs up, forming a cyst. The Bartholin's (BAHR-toe-linz) glands are located on each side of the vaginal opening. These ...

Apr 30th, 2022 - Overview Pelvic inflammatory disease Open pop-up dialog box Close Pelvic inflammatory disease Pelvic inflammatory disease Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of one or more of the upper reproductive organs, including the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Untreated PID can cause scar tissue and pockets of infected fluid (abscesses) to develop in the reproductive tract, which can...

Apr 30th, 2022 - Diagnosis Your health care provider will likely start by asking about your medical history and doing a physical exam that includes listening to your chest with a stethoscope. To determine if you have pleurisy and identify the cause, your health care provider might recommend: Blood tests. A blood test might tell if you have an infection. Other blood tests might detect an autoimmune disorder, suc...

Apr 30th, 2022 - Diagnosis If you have a fast heartbeat, your health care provider will likely recommend tests to check for WPW syndrome, such as: Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This quick and painless test measures the electrical activity of the heart. Sticky patches (electrodes) are placed on the chest and sometimes the arms and legs. Wires connect the electrodes to a computer, which displays the test result...

Apr 30th, 2022 - Diagnosis Tests and procedures used to diagnose Stevens-Johnson syndrome include: A review of your medical history and a physical exam. Health care providers often can identify Stevens-Johnson syndrome based on your medical history, including a review of your current and recently stopped medications, and a physical exam. Skin biopsy. To confirm the diagnosis, and rule out other possible causes,...

Apr 30th, 2022 - Diagnosis Diagnosis of anterior prolapse may involve: A pelvic exam. You may be examined while lying down and possibly while standing up. During the exam, your provider looks for a tissue bulge into your vagina that indicates pelvic organ prolapse. You'll likely be asked to bear down as if during a bowel movement to see how much that affects the degree of prolapse. To check the strength of your...

Apr 30th, 2022 - Overview Head lice Open pop-up dialog box Close Head lice Head lice Head lice feed on blood from the scalp. The female louse lays eggs (nits) that stick to hair shafts. Head lice are tiny insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. Head lice most often affect children. The insects usually spread through direct transfer from the hair of one person to the hair of another. Having head lice is...

Apr 30th, 2022 - Diagnosis To diagnose pericarditis, a health care provider will usually examine you and ask questions about your symptoms and medical history. A stethoscope is typically placed on the chest and back to listen to heart sounds. Pericarditis causes a specific sound, called a pericardial rub. The noise occurs when the two layers of the sac surrounding the heart (pericardium) rub against each other....

Apr 30th, 2022 - Overview Gaucher (go-SHAY) disease is the result of a buildup of certain fatty substances in certain organs, particularly your spleen and liver. This causes these organs to enlarge and can affect their function. The fatty substances also can build up in bone tissue, weakening the bone and increasing the risk of fractures. If the bone marrow is affected, it can interfere with your blood's abilit...