Abstract
Introduction
It is generally held that blood tests are not particularly helpful in establishing the diagnosis of bone tumours but may be useful in prognosis. We reviewed the results of blood tests taken at the time of diagnosis to establish the frequency of abnormalities in common blood tests and whether this was significant in staging or prognosis.
Method
Blood test results on all newly diagnosed patients with bone tumours from 2005 ā 2010 were exported and abnormalities identified. This was matched to diagnosis, clinical features and prognosis.
Results
There were 541 patients included in the analysis of whom 221 had osteosarcoma, 167 chondrosarcoma, 87 Ewing's, and 66 other bone tumours. 340 were adults, 103 children (under 14) and 98 TYA. The most frequently abnormal blood test was a low haemoglobin (ā13) in 56%, raised alkaline phosphatase in 40%, and raised ESR and CRP in 32%. Patients with metastases at diagnosis tended to have higher levels of ESR (pā0.0001) but there was no other significant difference overall. Older patients tended to have a greater number of abnormal results apart from the CRP which was highest in the TYA group. No single blood test was related to prognosis.
Conclusion
Abnormal blood tests are common in patients at the time of diagnosis of bone tumours. None are either particularly diagnostic or prognostic.
