SOME MORE DETAILS ABOUT BLOOD COMPONENTS AND HEMOPOIETIC ORGANS
Blood is made up of a liquid component, called plasma, and a cellular component. The elements of the cellular component are red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
The hematopoietic organs are the bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes and thymus.
The bone marrow is made up of myeloid tissue and is responsible for the formation of red blood cells and a category of white blood cells known as granulocytes and monocytes.
Spleen, lymph nodes and thymus, on the other hand, are composed of lymphoid tissue and are responsible for giving rise to a particular class of white blood cells: lymphocytes.
WHICH DISEASES DOES THE HEMATOLOGIST TREAT?
The haematologist is experienced in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of leukemia, lymphoma, anemia or haemophilias.
Leukemias and lymphomas are neoplasms of the blood, anemias are alterations affecting red blood cells, finally hemophilias are congenital defects of coagulation.
SUBSPECIALIZATIONS OF A HEMATOLOGIST
Modern hematologists can further specialize in various areas of their discipline and become:
- Transfusional hematologists. They are the classic hematologists of transfusion centers.
- Onco-hematologists. They are experts in the treatment of blood cancers.
- Immunohematologists. They mainly deal with the white blood cells present in the blood.
- Experts in hemoglobinopathies. They are experts in the treatment of diseases affecting hemoglobin.
The cardiologist, therefore, is an internal doctor specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the cardiovascular system (where "cardio" refers to the heart and "vascular" to blood vessels).
THE SUBSPECIALIZATIONS OF A CARDIOLOGIST
Also following medical advances, the modern cardiologist is almost always subspecialized in a particular sector of his discipline.
In other words, in addition to being a connoisseur of cardiac and vascular disorders in general, he has additional, even more specific skills.
Going into more detail, the subspecialties of today's cardiology include:
- Clinical Cardiology for Adults. Its experts focus mainly on the diagnosis, medical therapy and prevention of heart disease in the adult individual.
- Pediatric cardiology. Its experts deal with heart disease in children.
- Interventional cardiology. Interventional cardiologists have a particular background, which allows them to juggle highly sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, such as balloon angioplasty or coronary angiography.
- Advanced cardiology diagnostics. Its experts are mainly dedicated to the interpretation of diagnostic imaging tests, referring to the heart and blood vessels.
- Cardiac arrhythmology and electrophysiology. Experts in these fields deal in particular with disorders that arise in the heart's conduction system.
The oncologist, therefore, is the doctor specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of neoplasms that can affect the human being.
THE AREAS OF COMPETENCE OF AN ONCOLOGIST
Thanks also to medical advances, the modern oncologist can further specialize in particular areas of his discipline.
The three main "subspecialties" are:
- Medical oncology. Oncologists with expertise in this field deal with the treatment of cancer through chemotherapy.
- Surgical oncology. The oncologists belonging to this field are experts in the surgical removal of neoplasms and in the realization of biopsies.
- Radiotherapy oncology (or oncological radiotherapy). Oncologists with a particular background in this field are experts in tumor radiotherapy.
THE ROLES OF THE ONCOLOGIST
Once a tumor has been identified, the oncologist has the task of assessing its progress and severity, by means of a biopsy.
Knowledge of the stage and severity of a neoplasm is essential in order to plan the most correct therapy.
Once the treatments have been established, the oncologist is required to communicate to the patient the modalities, times and side effects of the treatment.
TEAM OF ONCOLOGISTS AND MORE
Generally, a team of doctors consisting of oncologists with various subspecialties, an experienced pathologist and a radiologist are taken care of an individual with cancer.
All these different professional figures serve to guarantee the patient maximum care efficiency.
Continued (Third Part): Medical Disciplines - Andrologist, Urologist, Neurologist
