Health Library

V/Q Scan
A lung scan is a procedure that uses nuclear radiology to assess the function and structure of the lungs. It is most often performed when problems with the lungs and respiratory tract are suspected.

Vaccine responsiveness test
This test looks for tetanus antibody in your blood. If you have been vaccinated for tetanus in the past, this test should show that you have enough antibodies against the disease.

Vaccine Therapy
Detailed information on biological therapy, also called immunotherapy, biological response modifier therapy, or biotherapy

Vaginal Cancer
Cancer of the vagina is rare. Certain factors thought to raise the risk for this type of cancer include advancing age, history of cervical cancer, and infection with the human papillomavirus.

Vaginal smear technique
This screening test looks for abnormal cells in the cervix. If abnormal cells are found, your doctor can treat them right away, before they become cancerous.

Vaginitis
Vaginitis is a common problem for women of all ages. Bacteria, yeast, viruses, and chemicals in creams or sprays can cause it.

Valvuloplasty
During a valvuloplasty, a catheter is threaded through a vein to the heart where a balloon is used to open a stiff valve. Once opened, the balloon and catheter are removed.

Varicella (Chickenpox)
Chickenpox is a very common childhood disease. It is usually mild, but can be serious, especially in young infants and adults.

Varicella-Zoster Virus Antibody
This test looks for antibodies in your blood that your body makes against the varicella-zoster virus. The virus causes chickenpox and shingles.

Varicoceles
Varicoceles are enlargements of veins in the scrotum. Varicoceles most often occur during puberty and affect as many as 10 to 15 percent of all boys.

Varicose Vein Treatment
More than one in five women has some form of varicose condition. Varicose and spider veins can be treated in several ways, including injections, surgery, and laser.

Varicose Vein Treatment
Sometimes your veins can become swollen and bulging. These are called varicose veins.

Varicose Veins
Detailed information on varicose veins, including causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and full-color anatomical illustrations

Vascular Conditions and Diseases
Detailed information on vascular conditions and diseases

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
This test measures the amount of a substance in your body that helps new blood vessels form. The test can help monitor cancer treatment.

Vascular permeability factor
This test measures the amount of a substance in your body that helps new blood vessels form. The test can help monitor cancer treatment.

Vascular Studies
Vascular studies use ultrasound (sound wave) technology to assess the flow of blood in arteries and veins in the arms, legs, and neck.

Vasculitis
Detailed information on the most common types of vasculitis, including Kawasaki Disease and Henoch-Schönlein Purpura

Vasectomy
Vasectomy is surgical procedure you may choose if you are a man and you do not want to father any more children. The word "vasectomy" comes from the two tubes called the "vas deferens" that are cut during the operation.

Vasopressin
This test measures the amount of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in your blood. ADH regulates your body's balance of water.

VCUG
A cystography is a procedure that uses a combination of contrast dyes and X-rays to find the source of problems in, or assess injuries to the bladder.

VDRL (CSF)
This test looks for signs of neurosyphilis in your cerebrospinal fluid. Neurosyphilis happens when syphilis isn't treated and spreads to the spinal cord and brain.

VEGF
This test measures the amount of a substance in your body that helps new blood vessels form. The test can help monitor cancer treatment.

Vein Removal
More than one in five women has some form of varicose condition. Varicose and spider veins can be treated in several ways, including injections, surgery, and laser.

Vein Stripping
More than one in five women has some form of varicose condition. Varicose and spider veins can be treated in several ways, including injections, surgery, and laser.

Venogram
A combination of contrast dye and X-rays are used to visualize the veins in the legs in order to diagnose deep vein thrombosis and other conditions.

Venogram of the Kidneys
A renal venogram is a procedure in which contrast dye is combined with X-rays to examine the veins that carry blow away from the kidneys. It is often nused in conjunction with fluoroscopy.

Venogram, Kidneys
A renal venogram is a procedure in which contrast dye is combined with X-rays to examine the veins that carry blow away from the kidneys. It is often nused in conjunction with fluoroscopy.

Venogram, Renal
A renal venogram is a procedure in which contrast dye is combined with X-rays to examine the veins that carry blow away from the kidneys. It is often nused in conjunction with fluoroscopy.

Venography
A combination of contrast dye and X-rays are used to visualize the veins in the legs in order to diagnose deep vein thrombosis and other conditions.

Venous Doppler Studies
Vascular studies use ultrasound (sound wave) technology to assess the flow of blood in arteries and veins in the arms, legs, and neck.

Ventilation-Perfusion Scan
A lung scan is a procedure that uses nuclear radiology to assess the function and structure of the lungs. It is most often performed when problems with the lungs and respiratory tract are suspected.

Ventricular Fibrillation
Ventricular fibrillation is a dangerous, potentially life-threatening heart rhythm problem. This type of arrhythmia can cause the heart to stop beating abruptly and lead to death within minutes.

Ventricular Fibrillation
Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib) is a type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, that affects your heart’s ventricles.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
A ventricular septal defect is an opening in the dividing wall between the two lower chambers of the heart known as the right and left ventricles.

Ventricular Tachycardia
Ventricular tachycardia is a rapid heart rate that begins in your heart’s lower chambers, or ventricles. Experts describe it as three or more heartbeats in a row, at a rate of more than 120 beats a minute.

Vertebroplasty
Vertebroplasty is a procedure in which a special medical-grade cement mixture is injected into a fractured vertebra

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty
Gastric stapling (restrictive) surgery is a type of bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) procedure in which surgical staples are used to divide the stomach into two smaller sections, strictly limiting the amount of food a person can eat.

Very Low Birthweight
Very low birthweight is a term used to describe babies who are born weighing less than 3 pounds, 4 ounces. Only a few babies are born this tiny.

Very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol test
This test measures the amount of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in your blood.

Vesicoureteral Reflux
Detailed information on vesicoureteral reflux, including cause, symptom, diagnosis, and treatment

Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR)
Detailed information on vesicoureteral reflux, including cause, symptom, diagnosis, and treatment

Viral Culture
This test checks to see whether an infection is caused by a bacterium or a virus. It can also tell which specific virus is causing your infection.

Viral Exanthems (Rashes)
Detailed information on viral exanthems (rashes)

Viral Infections of the Skin
Detailed information on the most common viral infections of the skin, including cold sores, molluscum contagiosum, shingles (herpes zoster), and warts

Viral isolation
This test looks for which type of herpes simplex virus is causing your infection.

Viral load test
This test measure the amount of HIV in your blood. HIV causes AIDS, and this test is used to see how well your HIV treatment is working.

Viral Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a serious inflammation of the lungs in which the air sacs fill with pus and other liquid.

Viral Skin Infections
Detailed information on viral skin infections, including Herpes Zoster (Shingles), Pityriasis Rosea, Warts, and Molluscum Contagiosum

Virtual Colonoscopy for Cancer Screening

Vision and Hearing
Detailed information on vision and hearing in newborns

Vision Milestones
Detailed information on a child's vision milestones

Vision, Hearing, and Speech Milestones
Detailed information on a child's vision, hearing, and speech milestones

Visual Evoked Response (VER)
Evoked potential studies may be used to assess hearing or sight, especially in infants and children, to diagnose disorders of the optic nerve, and to detect tumors or other problems affecting the brain and spinal cord.

Visual Screening
During an eye exam, an eye doctor reviews your medical history and completes a series of tests to determine the health of your eyes.

Vital Signs (Body Temperature, Pulse Rate, Respiration Rate, Blood Pressure)
Vital signs are useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems. Vital signs can be measured in a medical setting, at home, at the site of a medical emergency, or elsewhere.

Vitamin B12 and Folate
This test measures the levels of vitamin B12 and folate in your blood. You may have low B12 levels if you have pernicious anemia.

Vitamin B9
This test measures the amount of folate in either your serum or your red blood cells.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D is especially important for bone health. If you have low levels of this vitamin, you may be at risk for osteoporosis or other bone problems.

VLDL Cholesterol
This test measures the amount of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in your blood.

Vocal Cord Disorders
Detailed information on the most common vocal cord disorders, including laryngitis, vocal nodules, vocal polyps, vocal cord paralysis, contact ulcers, and laryngeal papillomatosis

Voiding Cystography
A cystography is a procedure that uses a combination of contrast dyes and X-rays to find the source of problems in, or assess injuries to the bladder.

Voiding Cystourethrography
A cystography is a procedure that uses a combination of contrast dyes and X-rays to find the source of problems in, or assess injuries to the bladder.

Von Willebrand Disease
Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is an inherited disorder that affects the blood’s ability to clot. People with VWD may experience heavy bleeding after an injury, leading to physical damage or even death.

Von Willebrand factor antigen test
This test is used to diagnose von Willebrand disease, a bleeding disorder that causes excessive bleeding after minor injuries.

Von Willebrand Panel
This test is used to diagnose von Willebrand disease, a bleeding disorder that causes excessive bleeding after minor injuries.

VPF
This test measures the amount of a substance in your body that helps new blood vessels form. The test can help monitor cancer treatment.

Vulvar Cancer
Nearly 90 percent of vulvar cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. Melanoma is the second most common type of vulvar cancer.