How Are Thrombocythemia and Thrombocytosis
Diagnosed?
Your doctor will diagnose thrombocythemia or
thrombocytosis based on your medical history, a physical exam, and test
results. A hematologist also may be involved in your care. This is a doctor who
treats people who have blood diseases.
Medical History
Your doctor may ask you about factors that can
affect your platelets, such as:
- Any medical procedures or
blood
transfusions you've had
- Any recent infections or vaccinations you've
had
- The medicines you take, including
over-the-counter medicines
- Your general eating habits, including the amount
of alcohol you normally drink
- Any family history of high platelet counts
Physical Exam
Your doctor will do a physical exam to look for
signs and symptoms of bleeding and blood clots. He or she also will check for
signs of conditions that can cause secondary thrombocytosis, such as
infection.
Primary thrombocythemia is diagnosed only after all
other possible causes of a high platelet count are ruled out. For example, your
doctor may order tests to check for early, undiagnosed cancer. If another
disease, condition, or factor is causing a high platelet count, the diagnosis
is secondary thrombocytosis.
Diagnostic Tests
Your doctor may order one or more of the following
tests to help diagnose a high platelet count.
Complete Blood Count
A complete blood count (CBC) measures the levels of
red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in your blood. For this test,
a small amount of blood is drawn from a blood vessel, usually in your arm.
If you have thrombocythemia or thrombocytosis, the
test results will show that your platelet count is high.
Blood Smear
A blood smear is used to check the condition of your
platelets. For this test, a small amount of blood is drawn from a blood vessel,
usually in your arm. Your doctor looks at the blood sample under a
microscope.
Bone Marrow Tests
Bone
marrow tests check whether your bone marrow is healthy. Blood cells,
including platelets, are made in bone marrow. The two bone marrow tests are
aspiration (as-pi-RA-shun) and biopsy.
Bone marrow aspiration may be done to find out
whether your bone marrow is making too many platelets. For this test, your
doctor removes a small amount of fluid bone marrow through a needle. He or she
examines the sample under a microscope to check for faulty cells.
A bone marrow biopsy often is done right after an
aspiration. For this test, your doctor removes a small amount of bone marrow
tissue through a needle. He or she examines the tissue to check the number and
types of cells in the bone marrow. With thrombocythemia and thrombocytosis, the
bone marrow has a higher than normal number of the very large cells that make
platelets.
Other Tests
Your doctor may order other blood tests to look for
genetic factors that can cause a high platelet count. |