Medical tests Archive

Repeated infections in one lung can point to hidden airway damage, aspiration, immune problems, or inflammation. Tests like CT and bronchoscopy may help identify the cause.

Managing emphysema involves more than an occasional lung test. Learn how breathing studies, oxygen checks, and symptoms can be used to track your lung health.

Learn what pelvic phleboliths are and whether treatment is needed.

Elevated levels of aldosterone (a hormone that regulates water, sodium, and potassium in the body) is an underrecognized and undertreated contributor to high blood pressure.

Carotid artery stenosis, which happens when fatty plaque accumulates in neck arteries that supply the brain, leaves people vulnerable to a stroke. Intensive drug therapy may forestall the need for invasive procedures to treat this problem.

Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests offer the potential to detect up to 50 types of cancer from a single blood draw. Most cancer deaths stem from cancers for which there is no screening test. MCED tests may find evidence of less common but more lethal types like ovarian and pancreatic cancer. But before considering one of these tests (which can be requested online), people should understand the limitations, including the high cost and possibility of false positive results.

An apolipoprotein B (apoB) test counts the number of LDL particles in the bloodstream as well as other particles that can contribute to clogged arteries and heart attacks. All of these so-called atherogenic particles carry a single apoB molecule but varying amounts of cholesterol. ApoB values are more closely linked to heart disease risk than LDL cholesterol. People with signs of an unhealthy metabolism-such as prediabetes, a big belly, or elevated triglycerides-are far more likely to have a high apoB.

A type of artificial intelligence that uses a deep machine learning tool to analyze different features from routine mammograms can predict a woman's risk of heart-related problems, according to a 2025 analysis.

More men are being diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to a 2025 study. Black men have a higher incidence of cancer and are twice as likely to die from the condition compared with white men.

An x-ray, CT scan, or MRI is usually not needed for addressing low back pain unless people have other symptoms or risk factors for a serious condition. Short-term rest, heat or cold, and over-the-counter medication can ease discomfort until the back pain goes away.