The evidence for the use of peripheral blood indices in the diagnosis of breast cancer

Diagnosis at early stages is critical for achieving favorable outcomes in patients with breast cancer. However, early breast cancer is characterized by atypical clinical and imaging manifestations, which are misdiagnosed as benign breast disease. This misdiagnosis may affect the choice of treatment, delay the patient’s condition, and affect survival. Therefore, identifying an effective and simple screening method to supplement existing screening methods is of considerable importance for improving diagnostic efficacy. Peripheral blood indices are simple, economical, and readily accessible that include routine blood indices, lipid indices, and coagulation indices. With in-depth research on tumor pathogenesis, the relationships between these indices and tumor development have been gradually revealed, suggesting their potential as diagnostic factors for breast cancer. This narrative review explores the development of peripheral blood indices for diagnosing breast cancer and their potential use in early diagnosis.