Laboratory Examinations

Blood Tests

While blood tests do not directly diagnose lung cancer, they offer valuable insights into a patient’s general health and the functionality of their body organs.

A full blood count (FBC) is conducted to assess:

• Anemia, indicated by a reduced number of red blood cells
• Thrombocytopenia, characterized by a low count of platelets, potentially leading to bleeding
• Neutropenia, signifying a decreased number of white blood cells (WBC), increasing the risk of infection.

Blood chemistry tests evaluate the functionality of a patient’s liver or kidneys. The results assist doctors in determining the patient’s suitability for surgery or other lung cancer treatment options.

Sputum Cytology

When lung cancer is suspected, sputum cytology may be requested. The patient is requested to produce sputum by coughing in a special plastic container, which is then examined under a microscope by a pathologist. Typically, a patient is instructed to collect sputum over three consecutive mornings. While cancer cells can be identified in the mucus, the test often yields insufficient cells for a definitive lung cancer diagnosis. Moreover, there is a notable rate of false negatives, meaning the test may fail to detect cancer when present.

Sputum cytology is more effective in diagnosing lung cancers originating from the major airways of the lungs, such as most squamous cell lung cancers. However, its utility in detecting other types of lung cancers may be limited. Additionally, it does not provide information on the extent of disease progression, necessitating further diagnostic procedures if positive for lung cancer.