Simultaneous enzyme immunoassay of carcinoembryonic antigen in pleural effusion and serum

American Journal of Clinical Pathology
P P Asseo, G D Tracopoulos

Abstract

A carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) enzyme immunoassay test was used to estimate its value in the differential diagnosis of malignant and non-malignant pleural effusions. Paired pleural fluid and serum CEA determinations were performed in 107 patients, 53 with malignant and 54 with non-malignant pleural disease. CEA values uniformly lower than a cut-off level of 5.0 ng/ml were found in the pleural fluid and the serum in the non-malignant group, whereas in the malignant group, values higher than the cut-off level were present in the pleural fluid in 37 (69.8%), and in the serum in 30 (56.6%) of the examined patients. All 30 patients with elevated serum CEA levels also had pleural fluid CEA above 5.0 ng/ml. The results of this study demonstrate that although pleural fluid CEA values below 5.0 ng/ml do not exclude malignancy, increased values strongly suggest that the fluid is of malignant origin. Pleural fluid CEA determination had a 13.2% higher sensitivity, compared with that of the serum, in detecting malignant pleural involvement, yet with no statistical significance.

Citations

Jun 1, 1988·Journal of Clinical Pathology·J MezgerR Lamerz
Mar 1, 1984·Somatic Cell and Molecular Genetics·R W O'DonnellC S McCune
Apr 22, 2008·Respirology : Official Journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology·Huan-Zhong ShiHai-Bo Yang
Jan 1, 1985·Critical Reviews in Oncology/hematology·J E Shively, J D Beatty

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