title: Carcino-embryonic antigen--no help with the differential diagnosis.
abstract: Two patients who were referred because of an increase in serum carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) were diagnosed after a number of years as having a medullary thyroid carcinoma. The relationship between CEA and medullary thyroid carcinoma is discussed. The serum level of CEA is neither sensitive nor specific enough to serve as a diagnostic tool. Its determination, however, is useful in the follow-up of patients with carcinoma of the breast, colo-rectal carcinoma and medullary thyroid carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Eemland Hospital, Amersfoort, Netherlands.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Cobben-Beld
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Nortier
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van de Wiel
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Rodenburg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen