From the Guidelines
A workup for a patient typically begins with a thorough medical history and physical examination, followed by laboratory tests, including a complete blood count, blood chemistry profile, liver function tests, and imaging studies such as a chest X-ray, and if necessary, CT or PET/CT scans, as recommended by the most recent guidelines 1. The specific components of a workup can vary depending on the presenting symptoms and suspected conditions.
- For patients with suspected acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the initial workup should include a thorough medical history and physical examination, along with laboratory and imaging studies, including a complete blood count with platelets and differential, a blood chemistry profile, liver function tests, and disseminated intravascular coagulation panel 1.
- The blood chemistry panel should include a tumor lysis syndrome panel, and female patients should undergo pregnancy testing, while male patients should be evaluated for testicular involvement of disease, including a scrotal ultrasound as indicated 1.
- Appropriate imaging studies should also be performed to detect meningeal disease, chloromas, or CNS bleeding for patients with major neurologic signs or symptoms at diagnosis, and a chest X-ray is recommended to rule out mediastinal masses 1. The purpose of a workup is to gather sufficient clinical information to establish a diagnosis, determine the severity of a condition, or rule out serious pathologies, and healthcare providers should select tests strategically, balancing the need for diagnostic certainty against patient comfort and healthcare resource utilization 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Workup Definition
- A workup refers to the process of evaluating and diagnosing a patient's condition, which may involve a combination of medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging studies.
Components of a Workup
- Medical history: gathering information about the patient's symptoms, medical conditions, and previous treatments 2
- Physical examination: a thorough examination of the patient's body to identify any signs or symptoms of illness 2
- Laboratory tests: such as complete blood cell count (CBC), urinalysis, and blood cultures, to help diagnose and monitor conditions 3, 4, 2
- Imaging studies: such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) scans, to visualize internal structures and diagnose conditions 5
Purpose of a Workup
- To diagnose and monitor medical conditions, such as urinary tract infections 2, osteomyelitis 5, and chronic conditions like anemia and thrombocytopenia 3, 4
- To develop an effective treatment plan, which may involve medications, surgery, or other interventions 6, 5
- To monitor the patient's response to treatment and adjust the plan as needed 6, 5