Guidelines for laboratory evaluation in the diagnosis of Lyme disease
Article Abstract:
Blood testing guidelines for patients with suspected Lyme disease are presented. Blood tests should only be used for patients with a reasonably high likelihood of having Lyme disease. This precaution is due to the high rate of false-positive and false-negative results with currently available tests. Patients with preliminary signs of Lyme disease who have been in high-risk areas may be appropriate candidates for testing. Antibiotic treatment can be given immediately to patients with strongly suspected Lyme disease. Using the results from a sequence of two tests can generally rule in or rule out suspected Lyme disease.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1997
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Treatment uncertainties surround early diagnosis of breast cancer
Article Abstract:
The main reason the National Institutes of Health Consensus Panel could not agree on the value of routine mammograms for women in their 40s was the risk of overtreatment resulting from diagnosis of ductal carcinoma (DCIS). Forty percent of breast cancer diagnoses in this age group will be of this cancer type. Some cases never progress to invasive cancer, and doctors have no way of distinguishing which these are. Moreover, because DCIS spreads more, a mastectomy rather than lumpectomy is the recommended treatment.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1997
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