Which patient case would most likely require a liquid biopsy?

The patient case most likely to require a liquid biopsy involves having a suspected cancer and needing a non-invasive test. Liquid biopsies are blood tests that can detect cancer-related biomarkers, such as circulating tumor cells, cell-free DNA, or other substances shed by tumors into the bloodstream. This approach allows for the identification of cancer without the need for more invasive procedures like surgery or tissue biopsies.

In scenarios where a patient is under suspicion for cancer but confirmation is needed, a liquid biopsy can provide essential insights regarding tumor presence, characteristics, and even genetic mutations that may influence treatment decisions. This non-invasive method offers a convenient and often quicker way to gain crucial information about cancer management, making it particularly relevant for cases where cancer is suspected.

In contrast, the other situations, such as surgery for a benign tumor or receiving physical therapy, do not typically involve the need for cancer detection or evaluation, and routine blood tests are generally not specific for cancer diagnostics. Thus, these cases do not convey the same necessity for liquid biopsy as that of a patient with suspected cancer.