Blood Tests and Biochemistry in Neoplasia

Question 1

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) in prostate CA (3)

Answer 1

Normal level from 0-4 ug/L
Cant use PSA alone to diagnose CA - Can be benign prostatic hyperplasia
Confirm malignancy if elevated levels present twice in a row

Question 2

Alkaline Phosphatase and metastases (3)

Answer 2

Normal level is 30-130 Units/L
Released by osteoblasts in bone repair
Elevated levels in patient of previous cancer indicates relapse/metastases

Question 3

Gamma GT and metastases use

Answer 3

Distinguishes bone-liver metastases with the aid of ALP

Question 4

Exudate pleural fluid criteria (3)

Answer 4

Protein ratio in pleural fluid compared to in serum is greater than 0.5
LDH activity in pleural fluid is greater than 2/3rd of upper limit of serum reference interval
LDH ratio of pleural fluid compared to in serum is greater than 0.6

Question 5

Hypercalcaemia and metastases (3)

Answer 5

Normal level is 2.10-2.55 mmol/L - Above 3 is considered high
New and unexplained hypercalcaemia indicates malignancy
Calcium interferes with sodium and water reabsorption - So patients present dehydrated