THE CLINICAL USE OF TUMOUR MARKERS, WHEN SHOULD WE WANT THEM?

Year 2015, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 124 - 127, 22.03.2015

Ersin Dumlu

Abstract

Tumor markers are biochemical parameters that are associated with tumoral tissues and are detected in the body fluids. These markers are secreted into the body fluids, either by the tumoral tissue itself or as a result of the metabolic change that is caused by it. These measured values could be the manifestation of a malignant process, but not necessarily. They could be secreted due to completely benign causes such as inflammatory infections. But recently,there is an information pollution about tumor markers amongst our society and colleagues. Beyond that, we observe that many colleagues can order tumor marker levels without hesitation even for a routine control patient. It is our purpose to correct this information pollution about tumor markers, to clarify and remind problems such as what a tumor marker is, when and for whom to order it.

Keywords

Laboratory, examination, tumor marker

TÜMÖR BELİRTEÇLERİNİN KLİNİK KULLANIMI; NE ZAMAN İSTEYELİM?

Abstract

Tümör belirteçleri, tümör dokusuna bağlı olarak vücut sıvılarında tespit edilen çeşitli biyokimyasal parametrelerdir. Bu belirteçler ya tümör dokusunun kendisi tarafından ya da tümör dokusunun neden olduğu metabolik değişiminin sonucu olarak vücut sıvılarına salgılanırlar. Ölçülen bu değerler, malign bir oluşumun göstergesi olabilir, ancak kesin sebebi değildir. Bunlar inflamatuar enfeksiyonlar gibi tamamen benign sebeplerle de salınabilirler. Ancak günümüzde, tümör belirteçleri hakkında, gerek toplumumuzda gerekse de kendi meslektaşlarımız arasında bilgi kirliliği mevcuttur. Bunun da ötesinde, bir hastamız normal check up yani kontrol için kan vermeye bir sağlık kuruluşuna geldiğinde, çoğu meslektaşımızın hiçbir çekingesi olmadan, rutin kan istemleri arasında tümör belirteçlerini cesaretle istedikleri görülmektedir. Amacımız tümör belirteçleri ile ilgili bu bilgi kirliliğini düzeltmek, tümör belirteci nedir, ne zaman istenmelidir, hangi hasta gruplarında istenmelidir gibi sorunlara açıklık getirmek ve hatırlatmaktır.

Keywords

Laboratuar, tetkik, tümör belirteci

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