Guide To Diagnosing And Treating Brain Cancer

Routine Lab Tests

An individual with brain cancer may be diagnosed using several tools, including routine lab tests on their blood, cerebral spinal fluid, and urine. Certain types of malignant tumors that form in an individual's brain can cause dramatic changes in hormone levels that can be detected with lab tests. These types of tumors include those in an individual's pineal region, pituitary gland, and germ cell tumors. Routine lab tests are performed on a patient's blood to help establish their general health and baseline before implementing other diagnostic procedures, such as a brain tissue biopsy. These tests give the doctor an idea of the quality and quantity of the patient's red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Routine lab tests on the blood and urine also provide the doctor with a general idea of how other organs are functioning, such as the kidneys, liver, and heart. A doctor may order a spinal tap to make sure the patient's brain cancer has not spread into their spinal tissues.

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