Effect of percutaneous biliary drainage on serum levels of tumor markers in patients with obstructive jaundice.
OBJECTIVE
Some tumor markers such as CA 19-9 are shown to be increased in obstructive jaundice due to either benign or malignant causes. In this study the clinical importance of raised serum levels of tumor markers have been evaluated, with particular reference to obstructive jaundice and percutaneous biliary drainage.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective longitudinal before-after trial. Twenty-one patients with obstructive jaundice were investigated, 5 with benign obstruction and 16 with malignant disease. All patients were examined with abdominal CT prior to biliary drainage. All patients underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, and 20 of 21 patients underwent percutaneous biliary drainage within 3 days after the CT examination.


RESULTS
The mean CA 19-9 at presentation was lower in the group with benign disease (95 +/- 60.9 IU/mL) than those with malignancy (461.9 +/- 331.4 IU/mL). The mean CA 19-9 level in the benign group 1 week after drainage was 12 +/- 11.8 IU/mL. The mean CA 19-9 level in the malignant group after drainage was 249.7 +/- 279.5 IU/mL.


CONCLUSIONS
A prominently high serum CA 19-9 level at the presentation and a high serum CA 19-9 level after successful biliary drainage should prompt investigation for a malignant etiology of obstructive jaundice.
Koroglu
Mert
M
Department of Radiology, Suleyman Demirel University School of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey. mertkoroglu@hotmail.com
Koroglu
Banu Kale
BK
Akhan
Okan
O
Coskun
Hasan Senol
HS
Yildizz
Harun
H
Yesildag
Ahmet
A
Oyar
Orhan
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D002758:Cholangiography; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D041781:Jaundice, Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen