| Theme | Cancer control for dialysis patients | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Cancer diagnosis in dialysis patients -- Focus on tumor markers | |
| Publish Date | 2018/01 | |
| Author | Kumiko Momoki | Department of Nephrology, Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital |
| Author | Norio Hanafusa | Department of Blood Purification, Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital |
| [ Summary ] | Cancer is the third leading cause of death in the Japanese dialysis population, and its prevalence has been increasing. Because of frailty, chronic inflammation, impaired immunity, and malnutrition, patients on hemodialysis (HD) are more likely to develop cancer than those with normal kidney function. Thus, HD patients are a high-risk group in need of cancer screening, since survival of HD patients is relatively better in Japan than in other countries. Tumor markers (TM) are widely used in clinical settings because of their availability and noninvasive nature. However, interpretation is difficult in HD patients because impaired renal function can affect the levels of some TMs, and the reference values are shifted upward, compared to those in non-HD patients. Therefore, a multifaceted approach including diagnostic imaging tests such as computed tomography and ultrasonography are required for diagnosis of cancer in HD patients. |
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