Urine and stool tests

Author:  Gesche Tallen, MD, PhD, Editor:  Maria Yiallouros, Reviewer:  Prof. Dr. med. Ursula Creutzig, English Translation:  Hannah McRae, Last modification: 2012/03/19 https://kinderkrebsinfo.de/doi/e74938

Urinanalysis (UA)

contains an array of laboratory tests performed on urine and a frequently used tool in childhood cancer diagnostics. A part of a urinalysis can be performed by using so-called urine dipsticks, in which the test results can be read as color changes. Components, that are regularly determined in urine samples from children and teenagers with cancer are:

  • Electrolytes, acids, alkalines, and proteins: to monitor the patient's fluid balance and kidney function
  • Glucose (sugar): to monitor kidney function and detect potential overdosage of glucocorticoids during certain treatment phases
  • Blood cells as indicators of an internal bleeding or urinary tract infection, respectively
  • Infectious diseases parameters and pathogens: to find the source of an infection
  • Tumour markers: substances, that can be elevated in case of a certain malignant disease. For example, the presence of certain hormones, the so-called catecholamines, in the urine is associated with neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer of the autonomous nervous system

Stool tests

are mainly performed to:

  • determine pathogens for infectious diseases diagnostics
  • to look for blood in order to early detect intestinal bleedings as a result of treatment-induced severe immunosuppression and anaemia