title: Supra-elevated CA 19-9 in a benign hepatic cyst adenoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Section of Surgical Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Scoggins
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Chari