Lab results - looking for opinions [PLEASE READ 1ST POST]

Hello everyone!
Could someone please help me interpret a few lines from this report? I am finding myself a bit lost in all these medical terms. 😕

"Increased glucose metabolism in the right paravertebral musculature at the level of Th2, likely non-specific in nature.

On CT, a sharply demarcated, highly hypodense formation is visible in a marginally enlarged liver, located subcapsularly anteriorly in segment IVa near the venous ligament, showing no significant post-contrast opacification, no increased radiopharmaceutical accumulation, and an undetermined etiology."

What exactly is a hypodense formation?????? Is it some kind of cyst??? 😢
And what does it mean when they say something is "non-specific in nature" or has an "undetermined etiology"?

To be honest, I don't really understand any of this, so I would be truly grateful for any insight you can offer!!

lonejackal71 said:Hey everyone!
Can someone help me make sense of these sentences from my scan? I'm totally lost with all this medical jargon. 😕

"Increased glucose metabolism in the right-side paravertebral musculature at the level of Th2 is likely non-specific in nature.

CT shows a sharply demarcated, highly hypodense formation located subcapsularly anteriorly in segment IVa near the venous ligament, without significant post-contrast opacification, without increased radiopharmaceutical accumulation, of undetermined etiology."

What on earth is a hypodense formation?????? Is it some kind of cyst?????? 😢
And what does it mean when they say something is "non-specific in nature" or of "undetermined etiology"?

Honestly, I don't understand any of this and would be so grateful for any answers!!

I don't know for sure, but just thinking out loud... "Undetermined etiology" means they don't know the cause. It's actually a good sign that there's no post-contrast opacification, meaning the mass isn't vascularized. Usually, those things turn out to be cysts...

Hi there!

I had some blood work done the other day as part of my six-month checkup for birth control...
And my results just came back:

PV 1.22 (ref range 0.7-1.2)
INR 0.90 (which is at the upper limit)
My APTT and fibrinogen levels look fine, but those numbers above have me feeling a bit uneasy... Does anyone know if I'm actually at any increased risk for thromboembolism, or am I still in the clear? Is there anything I can do to bring those values down... maybe through diet? I try to stay active, so I'm not sure if I'm overdoing it...🙂

P.S. I'm currently on Diane 35 and I also deal with high cholesterol...😠

Thanks for bearing with me!

Can someone with some actual medical expertise walk me through these results...? (Like, are we looking at low numbers here... high... or just totally normal???)---

ANTI-SS-A 0.93
ANTI-SS-B 0.52
ANTI Sm 0.82
ANTI Sm/RNP 1.11
ANTI-Jo-l 0.52
ANTI-Scl-70 0.52

I also had p-ANCA MPO and c-ANCA PR-3 done, but I haven't gotten those results back yet...

Also, if you could explain what kind of diseases they were even testing me for???... I've been dealing with some pretty terrible health issues lately... and honestly, I'm freaking out a bit...
Thanks...

mellowraven32 said:I'm not entirely sure what specific term they're referring to here, but just speaking from experience... "open etiologies" basically means they haven't pinpointed the exact cause yet. On the bright side, the fact that there's no post-contrast opacification is actually a good sign—it suggests the mass isn't being heavily vascularized. Usually, those types of findings turn out to be quite benign.

Thanks so much for the help!! 🙂

hollowcanyon81 said:Hey there... just dropping in to say a quick hello to everyone out there... hope you're all doing alright today...

So, I went in for some bloodwork the other day... just part of that routine six-month checkup they make you do when you're on birth control and all that... nothing too crazy, just the usual stuff...
So, my lab results finally showed up...

My PV came back at 1.22... the reference range is 0.7 to 1.2, so I guess I'm just slightly over the line, which is just my luck, really... nothing too crazy, but still worth noting, I suppose...
INR 0.90 (that’s basically the upper limit)...
My APTT and fibrinogen levels look fine, but this specific reading here is really starting to get under my skin... Can anyone tell me if I'm actually sitting in any real danger regarding thromboembolism, or am I still in the clear? And honestly, how do I even go about bringing these numbers down? Is it just a matter of tweaking what I eat? Or maybe I’m just moving around way too much... 🙂

P.S. I'm on Diane 35 by the way, and my cholesterol levels have been running a bit high lately... 😠

Thanks for sticking with me through all this...

Since you're sitting right on the edge of the reference range, it’s probably nothing to lose sleep over, but honestly... you should definitely run it by your doctor to see if there's some other way to handle it...

rowdypuma79 said:Can someone who actually knows what they're doing walk me through these results... I’m trying to figure out if these numbers are low... high... or just totally normal???

ANTI -SS-A 0,93
So, I was looking over some recent labs, and saw this ANTI-SS-B coming back at 0.52... just sitting there on the page... and honestly, it’s one of those numbers that makes you pause for a second, you know? It’s not exactly screaming at you, but it’s enough to make you wonder what the deal is with the autoimmune side of things... especially if everything else feels a bit "off"... anyway, just something to keep an eye on while we see where the rest of the markers land...
Anti-Sm at 0.82... just sitting here staring at the numbers and wondering where everything went sideways... turns out things aren't exactly where they should be...
So, I was looking over some recent lab results... just staring at the numbers, you know how it goes... and I saw this ANTI Sm/RNP coming back at 1.11. It’s one of those things that makes you sit there for a second, wondering if it’s actually something or if it’s just noise in the system... honestly, sometimes these tests feel like they're written in some secret code designed just to stress us out... anyway, just something on my mind today...
Anti-Jo-l 0.52...
So, I was looking over some recent lab results, and I saw this ANTI-Scl-70 reading sitting at 0.52... which, honestly, just feels like one of those things that makes you stare at the screen for a minute wondering what the deal is... it’s just one of those numbers that hangs in the air, you know? Like, it's not necessarily shouting anything from the rooftops, but it's enough to make you start thinking about all the "what ifs" and digging through old medical journals late at night... anyway, just something on my mind today...

I just finished up my testing for the p-ANCA MPO and c-ANCA PR-3, but I’m still sitting around waiting for those results to actually roll in...

Also, if you guys could just walk me through what exactly I was being tested for... because honestly, my health situation has been an absolute nightmare lately... and I'm starting to get really, really worried...
Thanks...

What kind of symptoms are you dealing with...? If you're looking for advice, you really gotta lay it all out there... everything from the weird little aches to the stuff that actually keeps you up at night... it helps to be specific about how things feel... so, yeah... what's going on?
So, basically, these are just the typical markers that pop up when you're dealing with all sorts of autoimmune stuff... you know, things like lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, Wegener's granulomatosis, or scleroderma... which pretty much means they're starting to suspect something along those lines is going on...
Just because they show up on a test doesn't mean you're looking at a diagnosis right out of the gate... I mean, perfectly healthy people can have them too, and then you've got folks who are actually sick but their levels look totally fine... it's all a bit of a gray area if you ask me. I don't know what the standard reference ranges are, though... maybe they're listed somewhere on the lab report itself?

hollowcanyon81 said:Hey there!

Had some bloodwork done the other day for my six-month checkup since I'm on birth control.
And my results just came back:

PV 1.22 (ref range 0.7-1.2)
INR 0.90 (that's right at the upper limit)
APTV and fibrinogen look fine, but those ones above have me a bit worried... Can anyone tell me if I'm at any risk for thromboembolism or am I still okay? How can I lower these numbers? Diet? (I walk too much, maybe?) 🙂

p.s. I'm taking Diane 35 and my cholesterol is high.. 😠

Thanks for bearing with me!

Basically, the higher those PV values are (and the INR), the lower your risk of thromboembolism. Yours are right at the top end, but honestly, nothing to worry about.

So, I figured it was time I shared my own saga regarding my liver... Back in November of last year, I noticed my liver enzymes were acting up—AST at 43 and ALT at 93.
By the next round of tests in December, my ALT was 72 (normal range 12-48), GGT was 72 (11-55), and bilirubin sat at 23.4 (3-20). I went through the ringer with testing—checked for hepatitis and all that jazz—and everything came back negative; plus, I’m already vaccinated against Hep B. I even had my copper levels checked in both my blood and urine; those were mostly fine, save for a tiny fluctuation in the blood, but the crucial thing is that nothing is accumulating in the urine.
It turns out I actually had mononucleosis once without even realizing it. Though, looking back, I did have those bouts of low-grade fever last year... so that might have been it.
I was getting bloodwork done every month or two, and those enzymes were always fluctuating—mostly just the ALT staying slightly elevated while the bilirubin remained stubbornly high. During that stretch, I was being incredibly careful with my diet, resting, and trying to support my liver with St. John's Wort tea, silymarin, and some liver-support honey. (Not that I was taking them all at once, mind you).
Finally, by July of this year, my enzymes had leveled out within the normal range—except for the bilirubin, which hit 33 (3-20). But now, in September, after I started doing some light aerobic training and had a beer or two, things shifted again: ALT ticked up to 53 (11-48) and my bilirubin is back to its usual elevated self at 24.1 (3-20).

Essentially, my doctor’s takeaway was that the mononucleosis I had couldn't have wrecked my liver like this, and that my elevated bilirubin is likely just how I'm built—congenital, I suppose.
I hit the gym regularly, though I had to take a ten-month hiatus specifically because of these liver issues before jumping back in about a month ago.
Now, my doctor has started insisting that this could be linked to the protein supplements I’m using. However—and here is the kicker—my most recent lab results showed an elevation *before* I ever restarted the protein after my break.

My own take on the whole mess? Since I didn't know I had mono, I wasn't being cautious, so perhaps it left its mark. Once the enzymes stabilized, I jumped straight back into aerobic workouts and the occasional beer—maybe that was premature? Perhaps I should have waited a little longer, which might explain this slight uptick.
But I absolutely don't see the connection to the protein supplements.
I'm curious to hear if any of you have dealt with something similar.

Can anyone help me make sense of these results? What does it actually mean if there are 30 leukocytes and 3+ bacteria in a urine test?

I'm asking for my little girl—she’s 3 years old. Her vaginal area looks pretty red, she’s been dealing with some itching, and there was some discharge. The pediatrician prescribed potassium permanganate soaks, applying Betrion twice a day, and a 6.5 ml dose of Cefixime syrup once daily.
What I'm really stuck on is what those leukocytes in the urine actually represent and just how serious this is. I didn't get a chance to ask the doctor directly since her grandmother was the one who took her in. They saw the doctor on Friday, and we're heading back this Monday to do another urine sample. She hasn't had any fever, though.
Thankfully, the itching has stopped and the discharge is gone now.

Sarah Gomez73 said:Can someone tell me what it means and how bad it is when a urine test shows leukocytes 30 and bacteria 3+?

It’s for my child, a 3-year-old girl. The vaginal area is red, she's itchy, and there's discharge. Her doctor prescribed potassium permanganate rinses, applying Betrion twice a day, and 6.5 ml of Cefixime syrup once daily.
What I'm wondering about is what these leukocytes in the urine actually are and how serious this is. I didn't get a chance to ask the doctor because her grandmother was the one who took her to the appointment. That was on Friday, and we're going back to provide another urine sample on Monday. She doesn't have a fever.
The itching and discharge have stopped now.

Dear Tyler Davis2,

Based on your description and the prescribed treatment, I suspect the little girl is dealing with vulvovaginitis—essentially inflammation of the vulva and vagina—likely accompanied by a secondary urinary tract infection.

This is actually the most common issue involving the reproductive system in girls this age. The reason is simple: the skin in the external genital area is highly sensitive and sits very close to the anus; poor hygiene can easily trigger an infection here. Most often, the culprits are bacteria from the large intestine.

Finding leukocytes and bacteria in the urine supports these diagnoses. Honestly, I don't think you need to worry about these specific results; they aren't dramatic or extreme values.

Furthermore, the fact that the symptoms are receding suggests the treatment is working. Continue with the regimen exactly as the doctor recommended.

I hope everything clears up quickly. Wishing you and your daughter all the best.

Regards. 👍

Quote : Felix the Cat, thanks so much for getting back to me. We’re heading back in tomorrow morning for another urine test—fingers crossed—and then we'll be swinging by the doctor's office in the afternoon to see what she thinks about moving forward with the treatment plan.

Here are the results:
Serum Calcium is 2.17 (2.15-2.60)
Serum phosphorus is 1.00 (0.80-1.45)

PTH - 59.4 (10.0-69.0)

A few months ago, back on July 22nd, I had surgery to remove my gallbladder because it was packed with stones. Since I’m diabetic, things got complicated; I had traditional open surgery, which unfortunately led to wound gangrene. About a month ago, they finally let the wound start healing on its own. Now I'm wondering, are these lab results looking okay or not? :/

Anonymous said:I just got my results back:
S-Calcium is 2.17 (2.15-2.60)
S-phosphorus is 1.00 (0.80-1.45)

PTH - 59.4 (10.0-69.0)

A few months ago, on July 22nd, I had surgery to remove my gallbladder because it was packed with stones. Since I have diabetes, things got complicated after an open surgery, eventually leading to wound gangrene. About a month ago, they finally let the wound start healing. Now I’m wondering—are these results above okay or not? :/

Hey!
Your numbers look fine, so try not to worry too much....🙂

Just to give you a layman's explanation of how to read this...
Those values in the parentheses are the normal ranges. So, for calcium, anything from 2.15 to 2.60 is standard; since yours is 2.17, you're in the clear. It's the exact same story with your phosphorus and PTH levels.🙂

Hey everyone! I’m hoping you guys can help me make sense of these lab results because my doctor is out of town for another ten days, and the lady covering for her was incredibly rude and didn't bother explaining anything to me properly...
Yesterday, I ended up at the ER because I was dealing with these intense pains in my lower abdomen that just wouldn't quit all day. The doctor there checked me out, told me it wasn't appendicitis, and sent me off for some blood work.
The elevated numbers were:
leukocytes: 11.9
segmented neutrophils: 69.
lymphocytes: 18.0
CRP: 5.4

My urine test came back totally clean. The ER doc basically shrugged, said she had no clue what was going on, sent me home with some pain meds, and told me to get more blood drawn later.
I went back today for more tests, and almost everything dropped right back down into the normal range, except for my CRP, which actually jumped up to 12.9. The doctor didn't even blink at it—she just told me to come back and redo the whole panel in ten days. Can someone please break this down for me? What exactly is CRP, and how is it even possible for these numbers to swing so wildly in just twenty-four hours?

Kate Castillo19 said:Hey everyone! I’m hoping you guys can help me make sense of these lab results... my primary doctor is out of town for the next 10 days, and the lady covering for him at the clinic was honestly super rude and didn't really explain things the way I wanted her to...
I ended up hitting the ER yesterday because I had these intense pains in my lower abdomen that just wouldn't quit all day... The doctor checked me out and said it wasn't appendicitis, then sent me off for some blood work.
The high values were:
Leukocytes: 11.9
Segmented neutrophils: 69.
Lymphocytes: 18.0
CRP: 5.4

My urine test came back totally fine. The ER doctor basically told me she had no clue what was going on, sent me home with instructions to take something for the pain, and told me to get more blood work done later.
So, I went back today for more tests, and everything else has dropped back down to normal levels—except for the CRP, which actually climbed up to 12.9. The doctor didn't even react to that, she just told me to come back in 10 days for another round of labs... Can anyone explain this better? What exactly is CRP, and how is it possible for these numbers to shift so much in just one day?...

Basically, CRP is just a protein that spikes when there's acute inflammation happening somewhere in the body, but honestly, those numbers aren't anything to lose sleep over. When you're dealing with serious, heavy-duty inflammation, the CRP goes way, way higher... we're talking three-digit territory there.
As for the pain, did it stay away after you took the painkillers? And where exactly was it hitting you... was it sharp, or more of a dull ache, constant, or coming in waves like cramps...? Any changes with your bowel movements?...

wearybison35 said:CRP is just a protein that spikes when there’s acute inflammation, but honestly, those numbers aren't anything to lose sleep over. When you're dealing with serious inflammation, that CRP goes way, way higher—we're talking three-digit territory.
What's the deal with the pain though, did it stay away after you took some painkillers? And where exactly was it hitting you, what kind of sensation was it—sharp, dull, constant, cramping...? How about your bowel movements?

My whole lower abdomen was hurting, and I mean the entire area, sort of like period cramps but definitely not those. The pain didn't really come back once it settled, it was just coming in waves, like sharp cramps. It would even flare up while I was just resting. Bowel movements were normal, urination was fine too, no fever, no nausea or vomiting, nothing at all.

They didn't really bother giving any actual explanation regarding what this specific report 😢 actually means.
Doesn't this look like a bad sign? 😢

Kate Castillo19 said:So, I’ve been dealing with this pain in my entire lower abdomen... and I mean the whole thing, really, it was everywhere. It felt kind of similar to those intense menstrual cramps you get sometimes, but man, it definitely wasn't that... just a different kind of heavy. The thing is, it wasn't constant, it kept coming and going in these sharp, stabbing waves—just pure cramps... and they weren't even waiting for me to move, either. They’d just hit me right out of nowhere while I was sitting perfectly still... which is always a fun surprise. On the bright side, everything else seems totally normal... digestion is fine, bathroom trips are regular, no fever, no nausea, no vomiting, nothing like that at all... just this weird, nagging discomfort that keeps catching me off guard...

I haven't really been keeping up with this thread over the last few days, but I'm guessing things have finally cooled down... Or have you already managed to dig up some new intel on the whole situation? 🙂

I mean, honestly... sometimes you just find yourself stuck in this total fog, just completely lost in the weeds, you know? It’s like everything gets all tangled up and messy, and you're just standing there staring at the thicket wondering how on earth you're supposed to navigate through it all without getting scratched up... just a complete mess of a situation, really... kaže:
They didn't exactly go out of their way to give me a clear explanation of what those results actually mean... just left me hanging with all that medical jargon... 😢
Does this feel like a bad sign...? I mean, honestly... 😢

Look, based on my own totally amateur, definitely-not-expert assessment, the results aren't nearly as bad as you probably think they are... I mean, the sperm volume and the actual count per ml look solid enough, really, but the percentage of normally motile sperm is a little lower than what we'd ideally want to see... still, that’s something that can usually be improved quite a bit once you get started on some therapy...
Trust me, I've seen plenty of sperm analyses that were way, way worse than yours... 😉

wearybison35 said:I haven't been checking this thread for a couple of days, but I'm guessing things have settled down by now. Or did you find out something new? 🙂

Everything is fine right now, the pain is gone, but honestly, I still have no clue what the hell actually happened. I'm waiting until Wednesday to get my blood work done again, so hopefully the results look solid. Thanks a ton for all the input.

After getting my CT and MRI scans, it turns out I had a skull base tumor. I actually just had the surgery to remove it about a month ago at the Sisters of Mercy hospital. Now I’ve received the pathology report back, and I was hoping someone who knows their stuff could help break this down for me.

Biopsy Report Description:

Two tissue samples were collected, measuring 0.4 cm and 0.6 cm in diameter.
The histological exam revealed connective tissue fragments, pieces of bone, and tumor tissue composed primarily of abundant myxoid, Alcian-positive, and largely hemorrhagic intercellular material. Within this material, there are traces of morphologically poorly preserved polygonal cells—which tested negative for EMA and panCK—alongside some focal areas of more cellular cartilaginous tissue.
These morphological changes point toward a mesenchymal tumor, but the sample provided isn't sufficient to reach a definitive diagnosis.

I’d especially appreciate an explanation of what "MESENCHYMAL TUMOR" actually means.

Thanks in advance!