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Measurement of CA125, carcinoembryonic antigen, and alpha‐fetoprotein in ovarian cyst fluid: Diagnostic adjunct to cytology
Author(s) -
Pinto Marguerite M.,
Bernstein Larry H.,
Brogan Dennis A.,
Parikh Firuza,
Lavy Gaby
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
diagnostic cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1097-0339
pISSN - 8755-1039
DOI - 10.1002/dc.2840060304
Subject(s) - carcinoembryonic antigen , medicine , pathology , cyst , cytology , alpha fetoprotein , serous cystadenocarcinoma , ovarian cyst , ovary , oncofetal antigen , antigen , cystadenocarcinoma , adenocarcinoma , ovarian cancer , tumor associated antigen , hepatocellular carcinoma , cancer , immunotherapy , immunology
This study used CA125, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) to classify ovarian cysts by measuring the levels of the three antigens; this information was useful when fluid obtained through laparoscopic puncture of ovarian cysts was submitted for cytologic examination from patients for whom tissue was unavailable for classification. We studied 136 consecutive cyst fluids (108 benign, 28 malignant) and correlated the findings with the tissue diagnosis. All three antigens were very low (CEA, < 0.5 ng/ml; CA125, 55‐2,143 μ/ml; and AFP, <4.8 ng/ml) in follicular and lutein cysts. Markedly elevated CA125 (296‐1,950,000 μ/ml) and low CEA (0.5‐220 ng/ml) and AFP (<4.8 ng/ml) levels were seen in patients with serous neoplasms, both benign and malignant. Elevated CEA (>600 ng/ml) and CA125 (56‐65.330 μ/ml) levels were seen in primary mucinous cystadenoma and cystad‐enocarcinoma. Two patients with colonic carcinoma met astatic to the ovary had an elevated CEA (>600 ng/ml) and a normal CA125. Only one patient, with a malignant teratoma, had an elevated AFP. The adjunctive use of CEA and CA125 is recommended for the classification of ovarian cysts.