Upper gastrointestinal cancers i.e. Esophageal and gastric cancers are common cancers worldwide and prognosis remains poor. In recent years, hematological parameters are being studied as prognostic indicators for various cancers. There are not many studies on these hematological parameters as screening markers in different cancers. So we conducted a retrospective single center study to evaluate if these blood parameters can be utilized as screening markers for upper GI malignancies. Aims & objectives is to determine if blood parameters are significantly different in patients with upper gastrointestinal malignancies as compared to control cases. Hundred (100) cases of upper GI malignancy and equal number of control – age, gender matched to cases without malignancy or infection was included. Both groups evaluated with routine complete blood count and upper GI endoscopy are included. Hematological parameters like hemoglobin, neutrophils and lymphocyte count, Platelet count (PC), mean platelet volume, MPV/PC ratio, red blood cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were calculated and compared to look for statistical difference. Results proved that blood parameters are statistically different in cases (upper gastrointestinal malignancy) versus controls. We conclude that hematological parameters can be utilized as a screening markers in upper GI malignancies.

Keywords: upper gastrointestinal malignancy, hematological parameters, neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio, platelets / lymphocyte ratio, screening markers.