title: Carcinoembryonic antigen levels as an indicator of the primary site in metastatic disease of unknown origin.
abstract: In 542 patients with metastatic disease arising from a known primary site, elevated CEA levels (greater than 10 ng/ml) were most often associated with metastatic disease originating from entodermally derived organs, breast, and mucinous ovarian primaries. This observation held true, in general, in a small series of 32 patients with metastatic disease arising from a primary site that had been unknown, but that was identified. Thus, although a CEA level below 10 ng/ml is of no use in pointing to a particular primary site, a value above 10 ng/ml suggests the site is more likely to be in an entodermally derived organ, breast or ovary containing a mucinous carcinoma. If liver metastases are present, there is an increased probability that the primary site will be found in the large bowel or pancreas.
mesh_terms: D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen