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Clinical Evaluation of Carcinoembryonic Antigen Test
William R. Meeker, Jr., MD;
Rafiah Kashmiri, MS;
Larry Hunter;
William Clapp;
Ward O. Griffen, Jr, MD, PhD
AMA Arch Surg. 1973;107(2):266-274.
Abstract
We have measured plasma levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in 259 patients with a variety of cancers, 266 patients with noncancerous disease, and 176 healthy subjects. Sixty-six of 73 patients with malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract had elevated (> 2.5 ng/ml) CEA levels. There was no correlation between CEA level and extent of disease. Inconsistencies were noted between clinical status and CEA levels during follow-up of seven of 26 patients 3 to 96 months postoperatively. Elevated levels of CEA were detected in 117 of 186 patients with nonentodermally derived tumors, 83 of 183 patients with noncancerous disease, and 19 of 176 healthy individuals. The lack of specificity and sensitivity of the CEA test limit its usefulness as a screening procedure. Our data also suggest that it may have limited value in detecting recurrence.
Author Affiliations
Lexington, Ky
From the Department of Surgery, Albert B. Chandler Medical Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication March 30, 1973.
Read before the 30th annual meeting of the Central Surgical Association, Toronto, Feb 23, 1973.
Reprint requests to Department of Surgery, C-204, University of Kentucky Medical Center, 800 Rose St, Lexington, KY 40506 (Dr. Meeker).
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