Can a routine blood test detect a tumor?

A routine blood test is a basic examination. It is impossible to detect a tumor through a routine blood test alone. However, a routine blood test is of relatively important significance for detecting some other major diseases. In order to detect a tumor, some other examinations are also needed. A routine blood test mainly checks whether there is an infection, anemia, or some blood diseases, etc.

Can routine blood tests detect tumors?

A normal blood test cannot detect whether a tumor exists. A tumor needs to be diagnosed through targeted imaging examinations or gastrointestinal endoscopy combined with pathological results.

What can a blood test reveal?

(1) Whether there is infection: Blood can be tested for viral infection and bacterial infection. The primary method of making a preliminary judgment is to determine whether the white blood cell count has increased. Since white blood cells in the body play a role in eliminating pathogens, in order to protect health, the normal value is (4-10)×109/L. It is generally believed that normal or decreased white blood cells indicate viral infection, while increased white blood cells indicate bacterial infection. However, this cannot be used as a basis for determining bacterial or viral infection, and can only be used to make a preliminary judgment. Leukocytosis is common in inflammatory infection, bleeding, poisoning, leukemia, etc. It reduces common cases of influenza, measles and other viral infectious diseases, as well as severe sepsis caused by drugs, radiation and some blood disorders.

(2) Whether the patient is anemic: Blood can be checked to see if the patient is anemic, mainly based on the hemoglobin content. Clinically, men with hemoglobin <120g/L, women with hemoglobin <110g/L, and pregnant women with hemoglobin <100g/L have anemia. Once this happens, we should further examine the exact cause and confirm the type of anemia, and then treat it symptomatically. Common anemias include iron deficiency anemia, hemolytic anemia, and aplastic anemia.

(3) Whether there are blood system diseases: Blood tests can check whether the patient has blood system diseases, such as hemophilia, thalassemia, hepatitis B, leukemia, etc. The early symptoms of blood diseases are very hidden and easily confused with other diseases, so they should be further confirmed through blood tests. Common symptoms include fatigue, palpitations and shortness of breath, loss of appetite, nosebleeds, bone pain, and even cold symptoms.