Sarcoidosis associated with an elevated serum CA 125 level: description of a case and a review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
CA 125 is a glycoprotein expressed by a variety of tissues of mesothelial origin. It has classically been associated with ovarian carcinoma. It has also been reported to be elevated in certain granulomatous conditions. We describe a patient with sarcoidosis and an elevated serum CA 125 level and review the medical literature on this topic.


METHODS
We describe a patient with active sarcoidosis and an elevated serum CA 125 level at our institution. A search of medical databases revealed 4 additional cases of sarcoidosis associated with elevated serum CA 125 levels.


RESULTS
All 5 patients (our patient and the 4 found in medical databases) were female. Four of the 5 presented with abdominal symptoms or weight loss. Four of the 5 patients had evidence of peritoneal sarcoidosis. Three patients required treatment and their serum CA 125 levels declined.


CONCLUSIONS
Peritoneal sarcoidosis may "mimic" ovarian carcinoma in that it may present with peritoneal or abdominal findings and an elevated serum CA 125 level.
Kalluri
Meena
M
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. kalluri@musc.edu
Judson
Marc A
MA
D000005:Abdomen / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000473:pathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013909:Thorax / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011241:Prednisone