Doctor-Reviewed Health Guides: Conditions, Procedures & Health News

An arthrogram, or arthrography, is an imaging test in which a radiologist injects contrast dye into a joint and then takes pictures with X-ray, CT, MRI or ultrasound. The dye makes ligaments, tendons and cartilage easier to see, so it helps explain joint pain or stiffness when an exam or plain X-ray is not enough. Risks are low.

An intravenous pyelogram (IVP) is an X-ray test of the urinary system. A provider injects contrast dye into a vein, and X-rays show the dye moving through the kidneys, ureters and bladder. Today IVP is uncommon, because CT scans, MRI and ultrasound usually give more detailed images, but it is still sometimes used for certain kidney conditions.

An arterial line, or A-line, is a thin catheter placed in an artery, usually in the wrist, to measure blood pressure continuously. It's used for people who are critically ill, having high-risk surgery or needing frequent arterial blood gas tests. Common side effects such as soreness, bruising or minor bleeding are temporary, and serious problems are rare.

A CA-125 test is a blood test that measures cancer antigen 125, a protein that can be high in ovarian cancer. Providers use it to check whether ovarian cancer treatment is working and watch for cancer coming back. It doesn't diagnose cancer on its own, because many noncancerous conditions raise CA-125. Levels above 35 units per milliliter are high.

A ferritin test is a blood test that measures ferritin, the protein that stores iron. Low ferritin means iron stores are low, which can lead to iron-deficiency anemia; high ferritin can mean too much stored iron or inflammation. Typical ranges are 15 to 205 ng/mL for females and 30 to 566 ng/mL for males, but labs vary.

A foot X-ray is a quick, painless imaging test that makes a black-and-white picture of the inside of your foot, including your ankle bones, the long bones of the midfoot and your toes. Providers use it to look for broken bones, dislocated joints, bunions, arthritis, cysts, bone infections and bone tumors. It usually takes less than 15 minutes.

A troponin test is a blood test that looks for troponin, a protein found inside heart muscle cells. When heart muscle is damaged, as in a heart attack, troponin leaks into the bloodstream, and higher levels mean more damage. It's one of the most important tests for diagnosing a heart attack.

A 20-week ultrasound, also called an anatomy scan, is a prenatal ultrasound done between 18 and 22 weeks. It checks how the fetus is growing, looks at its organs and body parts, and can find signs of certain congenital conditions. The scan is safe, takes about 45 minutes, and most of the time no major problems are found.

An anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) test is a blood test that measures AMH, a hormone made by the follicles in the ovaries that reflects how many eggs you have left. An average level is 1.0 to 3.0 ng/mL, and below 1.0 ng/mL is low. AMH does not predict whether you can get pregnant or when menopause will start.

Fundal height is the distance in centimeters from the top of the uterus (the fundus) to the pubic bone. A provider measures it at each prenatal visit to check the baby's size, growth and position. From 20 to 36 weeks, the number of centimeters should be close to the number of weeks of pregnancy, give or take 2 cm.

A urine culture is a lab test that checks the urine for a bacterial or fungal infection by trying to grow germs from a sample. It shows which germ is causing a urinary tract infection (UTI) and which antibiotics will kill it. Results can take up to three days.

A prostate ultrasound and biopsy is a short test in which a urologist places an ultrasound probe in the rectum to see the prostate and guide a thin needle that takes several tiny tissue samples to check for prostate cancer. Mild soreness and blood in urine, stool or semen are common afterward.

Lung cancer screening is a yearly low-dose CT scan (LDCT) of the chest that can find lung cancers while they're small and easier to treat. It's recommended if you're 50 to 80 years old, have a smoking history of at least 20 pack-years, and currently smoke or quit within the last 15 years. Any suspicious spot needs more tests.

A pregnancy ultrasound, also called a prenatal ultrasound or sonogram, uses sound waves to make pictures of the fetus so a provider can check its growth and development. It can confirm the pregnancy and due date, look for twins and check the placenta and amniotic fluid. The scans have no known harmful side effects.

A bacterial vaginosis (BV) test checks a sample of vaginal fluid for BV, a common infection caused by too many harmful bacteria and too few helpful ones. A provider collects the sample with a swab. A healthy vaginal pH is 3.8 to 4.5. Results take one to three days, and BV is usually treated with antibiotics.

A calcium blood test measures the calcium in the blood. The normal range for adults is 8.5 to 10.2 mg/dL, though labs can use slightly different ranges. A high result can point to hyperparathyroidism or certain cancers, and a low result to hypoparathyroidism or vitamin D deficiency. An abnormal result does not always mean you have a medical condition.

Dental X-rays (radiographs) are images of the teeth and jaws that let a dentist see what a regular exam can't. They help find cavities between teeth, decay under fillings, bone loss, impacted teeth and abscesses. They use a very low dose of radiation, and people with healthy teeth may only need them every six to 18 months.

A visual field test, also called perimetry, is a simple, painless test that measures peripheral (side) vision. You look straight ahead at a fixed point and signal when you see a light or object off to the side. It can find glaucoma early, before you notice any vision loss. It takes 5 to 10 minutes per eye.

A blood glucose test measures the amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood, mainly to screen for diabetes. A normal result is 70 to 99 mg/dL, 100 to 125 mg/dL suggests prediabetes, and a fasting level of 126 mg/dL or higher on more than one test usually means diabetes.

An abdominal ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to make pictures of the organs and blood vessels in the belly. It helps find the cause of belly pain and can show gallstones, kidney stones, fatty liver disease and an abdominal aortic aneurysm. It takes 30 minutes and uses no radiation. You may need to fast beforehand.

An esophagoscopy is a procedure in which a provider passes a thin tube with a light and video camera through the mouth or nose into the esophagus. It's used to look for signs of disease, take tissue samples, diagnose conditions such as GERD or Barrett's esophagus and remove stuck objects. You usually go home the same day.

A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is an X-ray dye test that shows the inside of the uterus and fallopian tubes. It's used to look for causes of infertility, such as blocked tubes or an irregularly shaped uterus. It's done 7 to 10 days after the first day of your period and takes less than five minutes. Cramping is common but short-lived.

A coronary angiogram is an X-ray test that uses contrast dye to show blood flow through the arteries that supply the heart. A cardiologist passes a thin catheter from an artery in the arm or groin to the heart and looks for narrowing or blockages. A blockage can sometimes be opened right away with a balloon or stent.

A DNA paternity test shows whether a man is a child's biological father by comparing DNA, usually from a cheek swab. It can be done after birth or during pregnancy, as early as the 8th week. Results show a probability of paternity of either 0 or 99.9. Only tests done at an approved facility can be used in court.