CEA test
English name of Carcinoembryonic Antigen test
The reason for the test request
To help determine the presence of cancer in the body, although it is not recommended as a screening test for the general population; to monitor cancer treatment, including response to treatment and disease recurrence; It is requested to help stage the cancer.
When the doctor thinks that the person’s symptoms suggest the possibility of cancer; It is requested before the start of cancer treatment as well as at intervals during and after the treatment.
Explanation about the test
It is a protein found in fetal tissues. When the baby is born, its detectable level in the blood disappears. In adults, CEA is normally present in the blood at very low levels. When the CEA concentration rises, it may indicate the presence of cancer. Although the increase of CEA may be due to benign diseases.
interpretation
CEA level increases in both benign and malignant diseases. It is not considered a specific test for colorectal cancer.
In addition, not all colorectal cancers produce CEA. Therefore, CEA is not a reliable screening test for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer in the entire population.
CEA level is low or normal in patients who are in the early stage of the disease and have a small tumor. People with progressive or metastatic tumors are likely to have higher CEA levels.
A sharp decrease in CEA from the preoperative value to normal level is a sign of complete eradication of the tumor. Therefore, this test is useful to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. It should be noted that many (about 20%) of patients with advanced breast or colon tumors do not have a high level of CEA. CEA can be found in other body fluids besides blood. such as peritoneum, pleural membrane and CSF can also be measured. Its presence in these fluids is a sign of metastasis.
In what conditions is the test increased?
An increase in CEA level can be caused by a number of diseases not related to cancer, such as cirrhosis, inflammation, gastric ulcer, ulcerative colitis, rectal polyp, emphysema, and benign breast disease.
Smokers tend to have higher CEA levels than non-smokers.
Additional information
CEA test is mainly used to monitor the treatment of cancer patients, especially those with colon cancer.
After surgery, CEA levels are useful in monitoring response to treatment and in determining disease recurrence. CEA is used as an indicator for other forms of cancer including rectal, lung, breast, liver, pancreas, stomach and ovarian cancer.
Not all cancers produce CEA and a positive CEA test is not always due to cancer. Therefore, CEA is not used to screen the general population.
Description
An increase in CEA in body fluids indicates tumor metastasis to that area of the kidney, for example, an increase in CEA indicates tumor metastasis to the CNS.
After colorectal tumor removal, CEA level should return to normal levels within 6 weeks. Otherwise, it indicates the lack of complete eradication of the tumor.
At birth, its level cannot be measured in the serum. Its level is high in chronic smokers.
The test should be done multiple times and it is not worth doing it once.
Measured values above 100 ng/ml must be diluted.
The homogeneity and difference of the antibody justifies the different sensitivities for different methods.
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