true polycythemia (PVIt is a rare type of leukemia that may lead to life-threatening complications. In this type of cancer, the body produces red blood cells in a large way, and thus the density of blood increases and red blood cells collect to form clots inside the blood vessels. Polycythemia vera cancer using medical tests, according to the website “health line“.
Diagnosis of polycythemia vera (PV) cancer
Your doctor will do a physical exam and blood test and may also perform a bone marrow biopsy.
physical exam
A diagnosis of polycythemia vera usually isn’t the result of a physical exam, but your doctor may notice symptoms of the disease during a routine visit.
Some of the physical symptoms that your doctor may recognize are bleeding gums and a red tone on your skin. If you have symptoms or suspect an infection, your doctor will likely examine your spleen and liver to determine if they are enlarged.
Blood tests
There are three main blood tests that are used to diagnose polycythemia vera
Complete blood count (CBC) analysis
measures analysis CBC The number of red and white blood cells and platelets in your blood will also tell your doctor the level of hemoglobin in your bloodstream.
Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that helps red blood cells transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of your body PV Normally, your hemoglobin level will rise, the more red blood cells you have, the higher your hemoglobin level will be.
In adults, a hemoglobin level of more than 16.0 g/dL in women or 16.5 g/dL in men could indicate polycythemia vera.
Measures CBC Also, hematocrit, which is the volume of blood made up of red blood cells. If you have polycythemia vera, a higher than normal percentage of your blood will be made of red blood cells.
In adults, a hematocrit greater than 48% in women or greater than 49% in men can indicate polycythemia vera, according to the World Health Organization.
blood smear
A blood smear looks at a blood sample under a microscope. This can show the size, shape, and condition of your blood cells. It can detect abnormal red and white blood cells, along with platelets, which can be linked to myelofibrosis (fibrosis of the bone marrow) and other bone marrow problems.
Myelofibrosis (bone marrow fibrosis) is serious scarring of the bone marrow that can develop as a complication of polycythemia vera cancer.
erythropoietin test
Using a blood sample, the erythropoietin test measures the amount of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) in your blood. . is manufactured EPO by cells in your kidneys and send signals to stem cells in your bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. If you have polycythemia vera, the level of this hormone should be low.
bone marrow tests
Bone marrow tests can determine whether your bone marrow is producing normal amounts of blood cells. If you have polycythemia vera, your bone marrow produces too many red blood cells.
