Elevated carcinoembryonic antigen levels and biliary tract obstruction
B. B. Lurie, M. S. Loewenstein and N. Zamcheck
Circulating carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels and their relation to
liver function test values were studied in 29 jaundiced patients with
benign extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction and inflammation. During the
obstructive and inflammatory phase, 15 (52%) of the patients had CEA levels
greater than 2.5 ng/ml. Elevated CEA levels were associated more frequently
with common bile duct stones (and cholangitis) than with gallbladder stones
(and cholecystitis) alone, although this difference was not statistically
significant. The former often had values greater than 5.0 ng/ml. The
highest values were found in two patients with liver abscesses. T'HE CEA
levels returned to normal following relief of obstruction in seven of ten
patients and increased in two patients who had progressive inflammation.
Serum alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin levels were significantly higher
in the patients with elevated CEA levels (p smaller than .05). Serum
alkaline phosphatase levels showed a significant positive correlation with
CEA levels (p smaller than .02). Patients with obstructive jaundice and
elevated CEA levels do not necessarily have cancer.
