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Carcinoembryonic antigen levels as an indicator of the primary site in metastatic disease of unknown origin
Author(s) -
Koch Maria,
McPherson Thomas A.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19810901)48:5<1242::aid-cncr2820480531>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - medicine , carcinoembryonic antigen , pancreas , ovary , metastasis , disease , metastatic carcinoma , pathology , primary tumor , carcinoma , oncology , cancer
In 542 patients with metastatic disease arising from a known primary site, elevated CEA levels (> 10 ng/ml) were most often associated with metastatic disease originating from entodermally derived organs, breast, and mucinous ovarian primaries. This observation held true, in general, in a small series of 32 patients with metastatic disease arising from a primary site that had been unknown, but that was eventually identified. Thus, although a CEA level below 10 ng/ml is of no use in pointing to a particular primary site, a value above 10 ng/ml suggests the site is more likely to be in an entodermally derived organ, breast or ovary containing a mucinous carcinoma. If liver metastases are present, there is an increased probability that the primary site will be found in the large bowel or pancreas.