Medical Specialties

Cardiology

Cardiology is the branch of internal medicine that deals with the treatment of diseases that affect the heart and the blood vessels. The cardiovascular system is responsible for pumping and circulating blood throughout the body. Examples of common diseases include coronary artery disease, heart failure, congenital heart defects, and valvular heart disease. Some common tests which your cardiologist may carry out include blood tests, electrocardiograms, and echocardiograms.

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Cardiothoracic surgery is the surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the chest. This generally refers to the treatment of heart and lung diseases. Cardiothoracic surgeons are usually trained to perform surgery on the heart and lungs, chest wall and diaphragm. Treatments for heart diseases such as coronary artery bypasses and even heart transplants are also executed by surgeons trained in the cardiothoracic specialty.

Diagnostic Radiology

Diagnostic radiology can broadly be classified into diagnostic radiology and therapeutic radiology. Different kinds of radiological treatments may be applied to produce different results. A computed tomography (CT) scan is essentially a computer-enhanced x-ray study; it gives a detailed cross-sectional image of the body's interior. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used on any part of the body to test for structural abnormality. Ultrasonography, also commonly known as ultrasound scanning, is similarly used to scan for structural or functional abnormality. Ultrasounds however, are considered safer than CT or MRI scans, and are hence commonly used in the visualisation of embryoes or fetuses in pregnant women.

Endocrinology

The endocrine system consists of a group of glands and organs that control hormone production. Major endocrine glands are the thyroid gland, the pancreas, the ovaries, and the testes. Hormones are chemicals that affect the activity of another part of the body; they can be thought of as messengers that control and coordinate activities throughout the body. Hormones play a very important role in the development and growth of entire organs; a small hormonal change can trigger a very large response in the body. Endocrinology involves the diagnosis of a wide variety of symptoms of disorders of hormonal deficiency. Common disorders of the endocrine system are diabetes and hyperthyroidism.

Gastroenterology

The digestive system refers to the group of organs that aids in the digestion of food. Disorders of the digestive system fall within the scope of study of gastroenterologists, who study diseases which affect the gastrointestinal tract. Hepatology or the study of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and the diseases which affect them are usually taken as a subspecialty under gastroenterology.

General Surgery

General surgery is surgery on the abdominal organs. This includes, but is not restricted to operations on the intestines, the liver, the stomach and the thyroid gland. It still stands as a surgical specialty, contrary to what its name suggests. General surgeons may be trained to specialise in one of many areas. Some surgeons are dedicated to transplant surgery, and must be ready at any time to harvest organs from suitable donors. Others yet, may be focused on trauma surgery.

Haematology

Haematology is the branch of biology that is concerned with the study of blood. Blood diseases such as anemia, leukemia and lymphoma may be diagnosed by haematologists, who are physicians trained in the care and treatment of haematological diseases. Common blood tests test for complete blood count, white blood count, platelet count, and haemoglobin level.

Hepato-Biliary Surgery

The Hepato-biliary system is the group of organs that carries bile from the liver or gallbladder to the small intestines; Hepatology is the study of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and the diseases which affect them. The liver serves to cleanse the blood of toxins, and destroys poisonous substances by producing bile. Diseases associated with Hepato-biliary surgery include cirrhosis of the liver, which can be brought on by excessive consumption of alcohol, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Biliary tract cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells in the inner lining of the gallbladder and bile duct; the production of bile is blocked as the cancer grows.

Internal Medicine

Internal medicine concerns the diagnosis and treatment of diseases which especially affect the internal organs. It does not however mean that practitioners of internal medicine only treat the internal organs. Other physicians may sometimes call on practitioners of internal medicine for help in diagnosing diseases, since internists are trained to treat and handle chronic illnesses.

Medical Oncology

Medical Oncology Tumours are abnormal growths, and can either be cancerous or noncancerous. Cancerous tumours have to be treated by oncologists, who are medical practitioners specialising in the care of cancer patients. The diagnosis of cancer is but one of many facets of medical oncology; oncologists are also concerned with the therapy usually associated with cancer, such as chemotherapy. Cancers are typically measured against a scale of 5 to describe the degree of the cancer's spread throughout the body, with 5 being the direst stage of proliferation. Cancer may start off spontaneously, or due to the presence of an agent called a carcinogen. Carcinogens exist in the environment, but may also be brought on by lifestyle decisions, such as smoking and drinking.

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Neurology

Diseases affecting the brain, nervous system and spinal cord are usually diagnosed with a neurologic examination. This is not to be confused with a psychiatric examination, which merely focuses on a patient's behaviour. It is important to understand that mental illnesses are typically classified separately from disorders of the central nervous system. Major neurological disorders include cerebral palsy, speech and language disorders, tumours of the brain, and movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.

Neurosurgery

Surgery on the brain, spinal cord, and nerves may generally be described as neurosurgery. Neurological surgery, as it is also known, works on disorders of the nervous system. Conditions that may require neurosurgery include head trauma, which may arise as the result of fractures of the skull. Brain tumours and tumours of the spine, spinal cord and peripheral nerves may also require removal by a trained neurosurgeon. Neurosurgery is generally speaking, a very competitive and difficult field due to the delicate nature of the surgical operations involved.

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

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Orthopaedic Surgery

Orthopaedic surgery may address disorders of the musculoskeletal system, whereby patients are unable to physically move their muscles and bones. Arthritis, trauma, and congenital deformities can be treated by orthopaedic surgery. Many subspecialties exist under the umbrella of orthopaedic surgery, such as hand surgery and spinal surgery.

Otorhinolaryngology

Otorhinolaryngology is commonly referred to as ENT (ear, nose and throat). Patients with problems concerning their sinuses or with severe allergies may seek treatment from an Otorhinolaryngologist, but these are only the more commonly known ailments. The field includes other subspecialties that also address problems with hearing and speech.

Paediatric Medicine

Paediatric medicine deals with the care of children from infancy until adolescence. The upper age limit of patients subject to paediatric care differs from country to country, and may range from 14 to 21. The differences between paediatric medicine and adult medicine extend past the physiological. The incidence of encountering congenital defects and developmental issues is higher in paediatric care due to the age of patients. Paediatricians may further specialise in certain areas of medicine; it then follows that every sub-specialty of standard adult medicine also exists in paediatrics.

Paediatric Surgery

Paediatric surgery is a subfield of surgery that refers to any surgical procedures that have to be carried out on young patients. Surgery may be carried out on patients aged anywhere from infancy to adolescence. Within paediatric surgery, there are other subspecialties such as neonatal surgery and foetal surgery. The former refers to surgery on very young babies in the weeks immediately following birth, while the latter refers to surgery on the foetus while it is still in the uterus.

Radiation Oncology

Cancer may be difficult to detect but the earlier it is detected, the better the chances of treating it effectively. Imaging techniques - methods of producing pictures of the body - have become an important element of early detection for many cancers. But imaging is not simply used for detection. Imaging is also important for determining the stage (telling how advanced the cancer is) and the precise locations of cancer to aid in directing surgery and other cancer treatments, or to check if a cancer has returned.

Renal Medicine

Renal disorders such as acute and chronic kidney failure, nephritis, and even incontinence may be treated with renal medicine. Acute kidney failure is typically defined as a breakdown of the kidneys' ability to remove waste products from the blood. It is caused by insufficient blood flow to the kidneys, obstructed urine flow, and injuries within the kidneys. These may however, be symptomatic of other underlying problems, and may require further investigation.

Respiratory Medicine

The respiratory system starts at the nose and mouth and continues through the airways to the lungs. Disorders that affect the lungs and airways are called lung or pulmonary disorders. Common symptoms that precede the diagnosis of common respiratory diseases are cough, shortness of breath (dyspnea), wheezing, and a crowing sound when breathing (stridor). Tests for lung function can give a picture of the general state of the lungs. Pulmonary function tests measure the lungs' capacity for air, and are used to diagnose diseases such as asthma. With proper identification, respiratory medicine can help to treat illnesses such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and lung abscesses, which are small cavities in the lung caused by infection.