Can blood tests help detect cancer in those with abdominal symptoms?

Researchers have found that some commonly used blood tests may be effective at detecting cancer in patients with abdominal symptoms such as abdominal pain and bloating.

In a study, published in PLOS Medicine, the researchers used the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, Hospital Episode Statistics and Index of Multiple Deprivation to analyze the outcomes of 477,870 patients aged 30 years and older with abdominal symptoms.

They found that 2.2% of the patients with abdominal symptoms were diagnosed with cancer — most commonly colorectal, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer — within 12 months of their blood tests. The researchers found that increased inflammatory signals on the blood tests such as low albumin, high platelets and anemia indicated an increased risk of cancer.

The researchers concluded that considering the results of blood tests may improve the detection of cancer in patients with abdominal symptoms.

Read more: PLOS Medicine

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