Considering the high morbidity and mortality associated with neoplasms and the need for more effective and less invasive diagnostic methods, liquid biopsy stands out as a promising tool for early cancer detection and monitoring. The objective is to critically analyze the advantages and limitations of this technique in the context of general surgery, addressing its clinical impact, efficacy, and the challenges for its widespread implementation. A systematic literature review was conducted, focusing on recent studies on the use of circulating biomarkers, such as ctDNA and circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs), in cancer detection. The  results  show  that,  while  liquid biopsy  offers  advantages  such  as  lower  invasiveness  and  the  ability  to  monitor  tumor progression over time, there are still significant challenges, such as reduced sensitivity in the early stages of the disease, lack of standardization in collection and analysis methods, and the high costs of sequencing technologies. It is concluded that, despite its limitations, liquid biopsy has the potential to transform cancer diagnosis and treatment into clinical practice, especially when integrated with traditional methods, as long as sequencing advance technologies and standardized protocols are established

Fernanda Ambrósio is 22 years old and an eighth-year medical student at Unisalesiano Araçatuba, Brazil. She decided to study medicine to understand how the complexities of the human body work. She plans to study psychiatry and dedicate herself to helping people in distress.