Test Name: CEA, Blood
Specimen Type: Serum
Specimen Required: 3-5 Cc Yellow Top Gel Vial
Day Performed: Daily
Reporting Time: 8-24 Hours
Methodology: Beckman Coulter Access II/ Snibe Maglumi 4000
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
A high CEA level in a person recently treated for certain cancers may mean the cancer has returned.
A higher than normal level may be due to the following cancers:
- Breast cancer
- Cancers of the reproductive and urinary tracts
- Colon cancer
- Lung cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Thyroid cancer
Higher than normal CEA level alone cannot diagnose a new cancer. Further testing is needed.
An increased CEA level may also be due to:
- Liver and gallbladder problems, such as scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), or gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis)
- Heavy smoking
- Inflammatory bowel diseases (such as ulcerative colitis or diverticulitis)
- Lung infection
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Stomach ulcer
References:
- Franklin WA, Aisner DL, Davies KD, et al. Pathology, biomarkers, and molecular diagnostics. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020: chap 15.
- Lee P, Jain S, Pincus WR, Khalili M, Bowne WB, Bluth MH, McPherson RA. Diagnosis and management of cancer using serologic and other body fluid markers. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022: chap 76.