title: The use of biliary CEA measurements in the diagnosis of recurrent colorectal cancer.
abstract: To assess the usefulness of biliary CEA determinations in the diagnosis of recurrent tumour, gallbladder bile was sampled in patients who underwent laparotomy for proven or suspected recurrent colorectal cancer and in control patients. Biliary CEA concentrations in controls were < 5 ng/ml, whereas significantly elevated CEA concentrations were found in the bile of all patients with tumour recurrence. Serum concentrations in these patients were elevated in 77% only. In a series of 12 patients with (a) suspicious lesion(s) on liver imaging but normal serum CEA concentration during follow-up, biliary CEA determination differentiated clearly between metastases and benign lesions. Biliary CEA determination seems to aid detection of tumour recurrence at an early stage and may preclude unnecessary surgery in patients with undefined liver lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: van Kamp
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cuesta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meijer
mesh_terms: D001646:Bile / Q000276:immunology*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen