Clinical value of serum CA19-9 levels in evaluating resectability of pancreatic carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical value of serum CA19-9 levels in predicting the respectability of pancreatic carcinoma according to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.


METHODS
Serum CA19-9 levels were measured in 104 patients with pancreatic cancer which were possible to be resected according to the imaging. ROC curve was plotted for the CA19-9 levels. The point closest to the upper left-hand corner of the graph were chosen as the cut-off point. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of CA19-9 at this cut-off point were calculated.


RESULTS
Resectable pancreatic cancer was detected in 58 (55.77%) patients and unresectable pancreatic cancer was detected in 46 (44.23%) patients. The area under the ROC curve was 0.918 and 95% CI was 0.843-0.992. The CA19-9 level was 353.15 U/mL, and the sensitivity and specificity of CA19-9 at this cut-off point were 93.1% and 78.3%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive value was 84.38% and 90%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative serum CA19-9 level is a useful marker for further evaluating the resectability of pancreatic cancer. Obviously increased serum levels of CA19-9 (> 353.15 U/mL) can be regarded as an ancillary parameter for unresectable pancreatic cancer.
Zhang
Shun
S
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.
Wang
Yi-Ming
YM
Sun
Chuan-Dong
CD
Lu
Yun
Y
Wu
Li-Qun
LQ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015854:Up-Regulation
D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen