Biomarkers and Lab Tests Flashcards
6 cards from real Mesothelioma Diagnosis practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Biomarkers and Lab Tests flashcards as text
Which laboratory finding in pleural fluid analysis is characteristic of a malignant exudative effusion?
Answer: High LDH and high protein
Malignant pleural effusions are exudates characterized by high LDH (>200 IU/L) and high protein (>3 g/dL) using Light's criteria.
Which complete blood count (CBC) finding is associated with advanced mesothelioma and poor prognosis?
Answer: Thrombocytosis
Paraneoplastic thrombocytosis (elevated platelet count) is common in advanced mesothelioma and is associated with poor survival outcomes.
What does an elevated serum CRP (C-reactive protein) indicate in the context of mesothelioma?
Answer: Active systemic inflammation associated with worse prognosis
Elevated CRP reflects tumor-driven systemic inflammation in mesothelioma and is an independent predictor of poor prognosis.
Hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) levels are elevated in pleural fluid of mesothelioma patients. This is because:
Answer: Mesothelioma cells produce large amounts of hyaluronan
Malignant mesothelial cells actively secrete hyaluronan into pleural fluid, and markedly elevated levels support a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Which germline mutation significantly increases the lifetime risk of developing mesothelioma?
Answer: BAP1 mutation
Germline BAP1 mutations define the BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome, which markedly increases the risk of mesothelioma, uveal melanoma, and other cancers.
What is the role of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in mesothelioma diagnosis?
Answer: Identifying actionable mutations and confirming malignancy
NGS identifies somatic mutations (e.g., BAP1, NF2, CDKN2A) that confirm malignancy and may reveal targetable alterations for clinical trials.