Supra-elevated CA 19-9 in a benign hepatic cyst adenoma.
BACKGROUND
Elevated CA 19-9 may be found in both cystadenomas and cystadenocarcinomas of the liver.


METHODS
A 59-year-old woman presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain, malaise and weight loss. Physical examination and laboratory evaluation revealed a mass in the right upper quadrant and a CA 19-9 level of 68 661 U/ml. CT scan demonstrated a cystic liver mass. She underwent a right hepatectomy, and her CA 19-9 returned to normal. Pathologic analysis revealed no malignancy.


CONCLUSIONS
In hepatic cystic neoplasms, an elevated CA 19-9 should not be used to establish the diagnosis of malignancy nor should it preclude resection.
Scoggins
C R
CR
Section of Surgical Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Moore
D
D
Washington
K
K
Wright
J K
JK
Chari
R S
RS