From the Research
There is no specific bloodwork that can definitively diagnose neck cancer, and diagnosis typically requires a physical examination, imaging studies, and a biopsy of suspicious tissue. While blood tests may be ordered as part of a comprehensive evaluation, they primarily help assess overall health status and are not diagnostic for neck cancer. Common blood tests might include a complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia or infection, and liver function tests to evaluate organ function. Tumor markers are generally not reliable for neck cancer diagnosis, as seen in studies such as 1, which found that only IL-6 significantly improved outcome prediction for second primary cancer in head and neck cancer patients.
Some studies have explored the association between blood group type and head and neck cancer, such as 2, which found that blood group B is associated with an increased incidence of hypopharyngeal cancer, while blood antigen A is associated with a higher risk of oral cavity cancer development. However, these findings do not support the use of blood group type as a diagnostic tool for neck cancer.
Imaging studies, such as CT perfusion, have been investigated for their potential to noninvasively predict intratumoral microvessel density in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, as seen in 3. However, these studies do not provide evidence for the use of bloodwork in diagnosing neck cancer.
In terms of treatment, blood transfusions have been associated with adverse outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing free tissue transfer, as seen in 4. This highlights the importance of careful consideration of blood transfusions in the management of patients with head and neck cancer.
Overall, the gold standard for diagnosing neck cancer remains a biopsy of suspicious tissue, and blood tests should not be relied upon for initial diagnosis. Blood tests may help with pre-treatment assessment and monitoring during treatment, but they are not a substitute for a thorough diagnostic evaluation.