There are 40 medical specialties that start with the letter K. From Kahn Test to Kyphosis. Medical specialties are fields within medicine that focus on specific functions, patient populations, or types of diseases. They have evolved to address the increasing complexity of healthcare, enabling practitioners to hone their skills and knowledge in particular areas. Specialists typically undergo extensive training that includes residency programs and sometimes additional fellowships, allowing them to provide advanced care and treatment options. The diversification into various specialties ensures that patients receive expert diagnosis and management of their medical conditions, thus enhancing the quality of care.

An interesting fact about medical specialties is that many of them have unique subspecialties that have developed around advancements in technology and research. For instance, within internal medicine, there are subspecialties like cardiology and gastroenterology that focus on specific organ systems or diseases, demonstrating a continuous evolution of medical practice to incorporate new knowledge and techniques.

Here’s what each of the columns in the table means:

Focus Area: This column indicates the primary domain or aspect of health care that the specialty addresses, such as cardiology focusing on heart diseases or pediatrics centering on children’s health.

Training Required: This column specifies the education and training commitments needed to practice within the specialty, typically involving medical school, residency, and possibly fellowships for further specialization.

Common Procedures: This column outlines the typical medical interventions or treatments that practitioners in the specialty perform regularly, such as surgeries, diagnostic tests, or therapeutic measures.

Description: This column provides a brief overview of the specialty, including its scope of practice, the types of conditions treated, and the patient population served, giving insight into the role of the medical specialty in overall healthcare.

Medical specialties That Start With K

Medical specialties focus area training required common procedures
Kahn Test Screening for syphilis Specialized medical training Blood test
Kallmann Syndrome Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism Specialized medical training Hormone replacement therapy
Kaposi’s Sarcoma cancer oncological evaluation chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy
Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) Viral oncology Specialized medical training Biopsy, targeted therapies
Kartagener Syndrome Congenital respiratory disorder Specialized medical training Respiratory therapy, antibiotics
Kawasaki Disease inflammatory condition pediatric evaluation IV immunoglobulin, aspirin
Kayser-Fleischer Rings Ophthalmological sign of Wilson’s disease Specialized medical training Slit-lamp examination
Kegel Exercises Pelvic floor muscle strengthening General medical training Instruction in technique
Keloid Abnormal scarring General medical training Steroid injections, surgical excision
Keratitis eye inflammation ophthalmological evaluation topical medications, corneal transplant
Keratoacanthoma skin cancer surgical removal biopsy, excision
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca eye condition ophthalmological evaluation artificial tears, prescription eye drops
Keratoconus eye condition ophthalmological evaluation corneal crosslinking, corneal transplant
Keratoplasty eye surgery ophthalmological training corneal transplant
Keratosis Pilaris skin condition dermatological evaluation topical treatments
Kerion Celsi fungal infection dermatological evaluation oral antifungal medication
Kernicterus neurological condition pediatric training phototherapy, exchange transfusion
Ketamine Therapy anesthesia, pain management, depression treatment medical training in anesthesiology or psychiatry IV infusions, intramuscular injections
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy mental health treatment psychiatric training IV infusions, intramuscular injections
Ketoconazole Therapy antifungal medication medical training oral/topical administration
Ketogenic Diet Therapy dietary therapy medical/nutritional training dietary counseling
Ketoiminolysis Metabolism and Nutrition Advanced medical training in endocrinology N/A
Ketonaemia Metabolism and Nutrition Advanced medical training in endocrinology N/A
Ketonuria Presence of ketones in the urine General medical training Urine dipstick test
Ketorolac Tromethamine pain medication medical training oral/injectable administration
Kevorkian Procedure euthanasia medical training, legal authorization lethal injection
Kidney Biopsy diagnostic procedure nephrology/urology training percutaneous needle biopsy
Kidney Cyst Aspiration Urology Specialized training in urology and interventional radiology Ultrasound-guided aspiration of kidney cysts
Kidney Papillary Necrosis Nephrology Advanced training in nephrology Kidney biopsy, dialysis, kidney transplant
Kidney Stone Removal urological condition urological training lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy
Kidney Transplant organ transplant medical/surgical training, nephrologist kidney removal, implantation
Klatskin Tumor bile duct cancer oncological/surgical evaluation chemotherapy, radiation, surgery
Kleinfelter Syndrome genetic disorder endocrinological evaluation hormone therapy, fertility treatment
Klinefelter Syndrome genetic disorder endocrinological evaluation hormonal therapy, fertility treatment
Klumpke’s Palsy neurological condition neurological evaluation physical therapy, surgery
Knee Replacement Surgery orthopedic surgery orthopedic surgical training total knee arthroplasty
Kommerell Diverticulum vascular anomaly cardiovascular/thoracic evaluation surgical repair
Kuru neurodegenerative disease neurological evaluation supportive care
Kyphoplasty spinal surgery orthopedic/spine specialist training balloon inflation, cement injection
Kyphosis spinal condition orthopedic/spine specialist evaluation bracing, physical therapy, surgery

Descriptions

Kahn Test
A serological test used to detect the presence of antibodies against the syphilis-causing bacterium Treponema pallidum. It is a common screening tool for syphilis infection.
Kallmann Syndrome
A genetic disorder characterized by the lack of puberty and associated with anosmia (loss of smell). It is caused by a deficiency in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).
Kaposi’s Sarcoma
A type of cancer that causes abnormal tissue growth, often appearing as red or purple patches on the skin. It’s commonly associated with HIV/AIDS.
Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV)
A type of herpesvirus that can cause Kaposi’s sarcoma, a type of cancer that develops in the skin, mucous membranes, and other organs. KSHV is also associated with other lymphoproliferative disorders.
Kartagener Syndrome
A rare genetic disorder characterized by the triad of situs inversus (reversed organ placement), chronic sinusitis, and bronchiectasis (lung damage). It is caused by a defect in the cilia, which are responsible for clearing mucus from the respiratory system.
Kawasaki Disease
An acute childhood illness that causes inflammation in the walls of the blood vessels, including the coronary arteries.
Kayser-Fleischer Rings
Greenish-brown discoloration of the cornea caused by the deposition of copper. This is a characteristic sign of Wilson’s disease, a rare genetic disorder that leads to the accumulation of copper in various organs.
Kegel Exercises
A series of exercises designed to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which can help improve bladder and bowel control, as well as sexual function, particularly in women.
Keloid
An overgrowth of scar tissue that extends beyond the original wound or incision. Keloids are benign but can be cosmetically disfiguring and may cause physical discomfort or itching.
Keratitis
Inflammation of the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. It can be caused by infection, injury, or an autoimmune disorder.
Keratoacanthoma
A rapidly growing skin lesion that resembles a squamous cell carcinoma, but is considered a variant of a squamous cell carcinoma. It often resolves spontaneously.
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca
Also known as dry eye syndrome, this is a chronic lack of adequate tear production that can lead to eye irritation and vision problems.
Keratoconus
A progressive eye condition where the cornea thins and bulges into a cone shape, causing distorted vision. It usually begins in the teenage years.
Keratoplasty
The surgical procedure to replace all or part of a diseased or injured cornea with healthy corneal tissue from a donor.
Keratosis Pilaris
A common, harmless skin condition that causes small, rough, bumpy patches, often on the upper arms, thighs, or cheeks. It’s caused by a buildup of keratin.
Kerion Celsi
A severe type of tinea capitis (scalp ringworm) characterized by a boggy, inflammatory mass on the scalp.
Kernicterus
A type of brain damage that can occur in newborns with severe jaundice if bilirubin levels get too high and damage the brain.
Ketamine Therapy
A dissociative anesthetic used for pain relief, sedation, and as an off-label treatment for depression, PTSD, and other mental health conditions.
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
The use of the anesthetic ketamine, often in conjunction with psychotherapy, to treat depression, PTSD, and other mental health conditions.
Ketoconazole Therapy
An antifungal medication used to treat fungal infections of the skin, hair, and nails, as well as Cushing’s syndrome.
Ketogenic Diet Therapy
A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet used to treat certain neurological conditions, like drug-resistant epilepsy, by inducing a metabolic state called ketosis.
Ketoiminolysis
Ketoiminolysis is the metabolic process that breaks down ketone bodies, which are byproducts of fat breakdown. This process is crucial for maintaining normal blood sugar levels and energy balance in the body.
Ketonaemia
Ketonaemia is a condition characterized by the presence of elevated levels of ketone bodies in the blood. It can occur in conditions like diabetes, starvation, or a ketogenic diet.
Ketonuria
The presence of ketone bodies, which are produced when the body breaks down fat for energy, in the urine. Ketonuria is often associated with diabetes, starvation, or a ketogenic diet.
Ketorolac Tromethamine
A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for short-term treatment of moderate to severe pain, such as post-operative pain.
Kevorkian Procedure
The controversial practice of physician-assisted suicide, pioneered by Dr. Jack Kevorkian, to help terminally ill patients end their lives.
Kidney Biopsy
A procedure to remove a small sample of kidney tissue for analysis to diagnose kidney disease or other conditions affecting the kidneys.
Kidney Cyst Aspiration
Kidney cyst aspiration is a minimally invasive procedure used to remove fluid from a cyst in the kidney, often used to relieve symptoms or prepare for further treatment.
Kidney Papillary Necrosis
Kidney papillary necrosis is a condition characterized by the death of the tips (papillae) of the kidney’s internal structures, which can lead to kidney failure and the need for dialysis or transplant.
Kidney Stone Removal
Procedures to remove kidney stones, such as using shock waves (lithotripsy) or small instruments passed through the urinary tract.
Kidney Transplant
The surgical procedure to replace a failing or damaged kidney with a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor.
Klatskin Tumor
A rare type of bile duct cancer that occurs at the junction where the right and left hepatic ducts meet.
Kleinfelter Syndrome
A chromosomal condition in which a male is born with an extra X chromosome, leading to infertility and other physical/cognitive differences.
Klinefelter Syndrome
A chromosomal condition in which a male is born with an extra X chromosome, leading to infertility and other physical/cognitive differences.
Klumpke’s Palsy
A type of brachial plexus injury that affects the lower arm and hand, causing weakness and loss of function.
Knee Replacement Surgery
The surgical procedure to replace a damaged or arthritic knee joint with an artificial implant, typically made of metal and plastic components.
Kommerell Diverticulum
A rare congenital abnormality involving a bulge or outpouching in the aorta, which can be asymptomatic or lead to complications.
Kuru
A very rare, fatal neurodegenerative disorder transmitted through exposure to infected neural tissue, historically found in certain Fore language populations of Papua New Guinea.
Kyphoplasty
A minimally invasive procedure to treat vertebral compression fractures, often due to osteoporosis, by injecting cement into the collapsed vertebra.
Kyphosis
An abnormal, forward rounding of the upper back, which can be congenital, postural, or due to underlying conditions like osteoporosis.

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