Diagnostic value of tumoural markers in pleural effusions.
The aim was to reassess the diagnostic value of tumour markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen (CA) 15-3, CA 19-9 and CA 72-4 in the pleural fluid of various diseases, both in benign and malignant. Eighty-one patients (41 malignant and 40 benign pleural effusion) were included in this study. The effusion levels of CEA, CA 15-3, CA 19-9 and CA 72-4 were assayed with commercial enzyme immunoassays. CEA, CA 15-3, CA 19-9 and CA 72-4 mean pleural effusion fluid levels in malignant group were found to be significantly higher than that in benign group, but CA 19-9 mean pleural effusion fluid levels of malignant and benign group were similar. It was of interest to evaluate the prediction of the origin by pleural tumour markers. In pleurisies with a negative cytology, these assays are particularly useful when the clinical presentation cannot clearly exclude an underlying malignancy.
Ustün
Hasan
H
Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Karaman Tuberculosis Centre, Turkey. ustunhtr@hotmail.com
Borazan
Ali
A
Bilgiçli
Nesrin
N
Yilmaz
Ahmet
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor