Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine is the speciality of medicine concerning the diagnosis and treatment of disease of all internal organs, including gastrointestinal, respiratory, renal, hepatic, pancreatic, endocrine, immun-mediated, hematologic disease. To diagnose the different diseases advanced diagnostic testing and work-up using blood work, radiography, ultrasonography, endoscopy, rhinoscopy, bronchoscopy, advanced imaging (MRI), endocrine testing etc is used. For some diseases more invasive steps are necessary to make a diagnosis or for treatment, then we work closely together with the soft tissue surgeons.
Gastroenterology
Clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease can be vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia and weight loss. Work up includes most of the time blood work, imaging like x-rays and ultrasound, fecal exams, vitamin blood level determination and sampling of the gastrointestinal tract through endoscopy or exploratory surgery for histology.
Respiratory tract disease
Coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge and respiratory distress are signs leading towards the respiratory tract. Depending on the suspected region different modalities are used for work up. For nasal disease advanced imaging like MRI followed by rhinoscopy is often used. Problems of the lower respiratory tract are evaluaded by x-rays, bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage.
Urinary tract disease
Increased drinking and urinating, pain with urination, hematuria, weight loss can be signs for problems in the urinary tract. Blood work, urinalysis, imaging (x-rays, ultrasound, contrast studies), sometimes renal biopsies are used to make the diagnosis and determine the best treatment options.
Hepatology
Jaundice, anorexia, weight loss, neurological signs, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen can all be signs of hepatic disease. Work up includes blood work, liver function testing, imaging (x-rays, ultrasound) and most of the time hepatic biopsies.
Pancreatic disease
Weight loss, vomiting, abdominal pain but as well ravenous appetite with weight loss and diarrhea can be pointing toward the pancreas. Blood work, special blood tests, imaging and sometimes biopsies are used to evaluate the pancreas.
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is dealing with disorders of the endocrine system and its specific secretions called hormones. There are several different hormone systems present in the body and so are the clinical signs different depending on the changes. Increased appetite, increased thirst and urination, weight loss or skin changes are examples. Work up includes specific blood hormone testing and imaging (ultrasound).
Immunmediated Disease
Signs of immunmediated disease can be anemia (decreased red blood cell count), bleeding disorders through platelets destruction, limbing because of polyarthritis. Blood work, imaging (x-rays, ultrasound), joint taps, special blood tests are examples for the used diagnostic testings.
Hematology
Hematology is concerned with blood, the blood forming organs (bone marrow) and its disorders. Different blood works and bone marrow examination are used to determine the cause of the changes seen on regular blood works.