Clinical Diagnosis · Haematological System · Medium

Pancytopenia

Meaning: A reduction in all three blood cell types: red cells, white cells and platelets.

In practice: Pancytopenia on the blood film led to a bone marrow biopsy.

Word parts

  • -penia means too few, a deficiency

Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.

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Which word means: A localised collection of clotted blood outside blood vessels, usually caused by injury.

Which word means: Underproduction of hormones by the gland in the neck, causing tiredness, weight gain and cold intolerance.

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