title: Persistent elevation of CA 19-9 levels in a patient with an extended retroperitoneal dermoid.
abstract: CA 19-9 has been established as sensitive tumor marker in a variety of malignant diseases, especially in carcinomas of the exocrine pancreas. The specificity of CA 19-9 is limited by many benign diseases causing abnormal values. A case of a patient with a retroperitoneal dermoid showing high serum levels of CA 19-9 will be described. The patient suffered from a large retroperitoneal mass (7 x 6 x 9 cm). A CT-guided fine needle biopsy of the tumor was performed and the histology was compatible with a benign dermoid. The CT-scans of the abdomen showed also the typical features of a dermoid. Tumor markers and lab counts stayed in the normal range except CA 19-9, which was constantly elevated with value between 131 and 329 U/ml. A benign or malignant disorder was excluded. An immunoscintigraphy and a SPECT with a I-131-labeled monoclonal antibody against CA 19-9 revealed the retroperitoneal mass as the source of the CA 19-9 elevation. This is the first case described in English scientific literature of a retroperitoneal dermoid (benign teratoma) as a source of a persistently elevated level of CA 19-9.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Strahlentherapie-Radioonkologie-Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Germany. OMicke@aol.com
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Micke
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schafer
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Willich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D003884:Dermoid Cyst / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D018239:Seminoma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D013724:Teratoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins