Oral cancer laboratory findings
Oral cancer Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Simrat Sarai, M.D. [2]
Overview
Some patients with oral cancer may have elevated liver function tests, abnormal urea and electrolyte measurements, elevated calcium levels, serum ferritin, alpha-antitrypsin, haptoglobin and alpha-antiglycoprotein and decreased levels of prealbumin, which is usually suggestive of metastasis.
Oral cancer laboratory findings
Blood tests include
- Liver function tests may be elevated in liver metastasis.
- Complete blood cell count and hemoglobin value may be decreased.
- Abnormal urea and electrolyte measurements.
- Serum calcium level may have elevated which is a poor prognostic indicator.
- Serum ferritin, alpha-antitrypsin, and alpha-antiglycoprotein levels may be increased in high-stage cancer of oral cavity while those at any stage of disease have increased haptoglobin levels.
- Prealbumin levels are decreased slightly in persons at any stage.