Lung cancer laboratory tests

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Saarah T. Alkhairy M.D

The laboratory findings associated with lung cancer are the following neutropenia, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypercalcemia, respiratory acidosis, hypercarbia, hypoxia, and tumor cells in sputum and pleural effusion cytology.

• CBC

• Neutropenia in patients with a recent history of chemotherapy

• Serum Electrolytes

• Hyponatremia from syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (SIADH)
• Hypokalemia from syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (SIADH)
• Hypercalcemia with normal PTH levels from squamous cell carcinoma (from secretion of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTH-rP)

• ABG

• Respiratory acidosis from respiratory failure
• Hypercarbia from respiratory failure
• Hypoxia from respiratory failure

• Sputum Cytology

• Sputum cytology demonstrates tumor cells

• Needle Thoracentesis

• Pleural effusion cytology demonstrates tumor cells

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