Laboratory tests

Author: Gesche Tallen, MD, PhD, Editor: Dr. med. Gesche Tallen, Reviewer: Prof. Dr. med. Ursula Creutzig, English Translation: Hannah McRae, Last modification: 2012/03/28

Prior to, during and after cancer treatment, the levels of various parameters representing certain organ functions are regularly determined by performing specific laboratory tests on body fluids, such as blood, urine or cerebrovascular fluid. On the one hand, these tests initially serve to confirm (or rule out) a malignant disease and lateron to monitor its course. They help both to detect side-effects of the intensive treatment in time, and thus to prevent serious complications. The following laboratory tests will be explained in this chapter: