title: [Diagnostic value of the analysis of alpha fetoprotein levels in malignant neoplasms of the digestive system].
abstract: The concentration of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in serum was determined in 58 patients (35 males and 23 females) aged from 38 to 87 years treated surgically for malignant tumours of the digestive tract, including colonic carcinoma in 30, gastric carcinoma in 11, pancreatic carcinoma in 10 and oesophageal carcinoma in 7 cases. In 33 patients the tumour was disseminated (into the liver in 22 cases). On the ground of AFP concentration determinations in 40 patients (19 males and 21 females) aged 22 to 80 years operated on for non-neoplastic abdominal diseases the upper normal range was accepted as 9.42 ng/ml. Raised AFP concentration was found in only patient with advanced pancreatic carcinoma and multiple metastases to the liver and lymph nodes. The study showed that serum AFP level in cases of digestive tract malignancies is of limited diagnostic value.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins
vernacular_title: Wartość diagnostyczna oznaczenia stezenia alfafetoproteiny w nowotworach złośliwych przewodu pokarmowego.