Carcinoembryonic antigen in fine-needle aspirate of liver: a diagnostic adjunct to cytology

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Diagnostic cytopathology

Abstract

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was measured in 50 consecutive fine-needle aspirates of liver to determine whether elevated levels could predict the presence of carcinoma in cytologically negative aspirates. There were 44 malignant and 6 benign lesions. The highest mean CEA values (591-672 ng/ml) were obtained in metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon, stomach, and pancreas; lower levels (13.5-151 ng/ml) were found in metastatic carcinoma from the breast and lung. Carcinoid, hepatoma, Hodgkin's disease, and benign liver aspirates had low (less than 5 ng/ml) CEA levels. Cytologic diagnosis of malignancy was 96% sensitive and 100% specific. Using 5 ng as a cutoff for malignancy, the overall sensitivity of CEA for detection of malignancy was 77%; for detection of adenocarcinoma alone, sensitivity was 85%. Specificity was 100%. The CEA content of fine-needle aspirates generally exceeded serum values by 10-100-fold. Although CEA content did not enhance the sensitivity of cytologic diagnosis, it may suggest metastatic carcinoma of the GI tract in patients presenting with adenocarcinoma of an unknown primary source.

First Page

23

Last Page

6

DOI

10.1002/dc.2840070108

Publication Date

1-1-1991

Identifier

2026078 (pubmed); 10.1002/dc.2840070108 (doi)

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