title: The diagnosis of pleural effusions--are cancer markers clinically helpful?
abstract: We submitted 83 consecutive patients with pleural effusion to routine clinical investigation; 57 were diagnosed as malignant, 18 as benign, and 8 were not diagnosed. Pleural fluid and serum were analysed for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), acid glycoprotein (AGP), antichymotrypsin (ACT), C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha 2-pregnancy associated glycoprotein (alpha 2-PAG) and ferritin. Multivariate discriminant analysis was performed on the results of the protein measurements. CEA and ACT values in serum and fluid were found to give a good discriminating function between the benign and malignant groups. The use of such an analysis, in a clinical context, is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002918:Chymotrypsin / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000032:analysis; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000378:metabolism*; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000032:analysis; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D009961:Orosomucoid; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins; D002918:Chymotrypsin; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A