Diagnostic value of CEA in pleural fluid for differential diagnosis of benign and malign pleural effusion.
The diagnostic value of tumor markers in pleural fluid is still the subject of debate. The aim of this work was to evaluate diagnostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in pleural fluid for differentiating malignant from non malign pleural effusion, and their additive value to cytological examination.


METHODS
Prospective, case control study.


METHODS
Tertiary University hospital, Clinic for Lung Disease, Knez Selo.


METHODS
Eighty two patients with pleural effusion, forty one with malignant, and forty one with non malignant pleural effusion.


RESULTS
Levels of CEA in pleural fluid was measured by IRMA CEA methods, INEP Belgrade. Patients with lung cancer were found to have significantly higher CEA levels than patients with non malign pleural effusion. Using cut off values of 2.4 ng/ml, the sensitivity of marker was 78%, and specificity 95.1% (CI 95%). The addition of CEA to cytology increase diagnostic rate from 68 to 85.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
CEA may represent a helpful adjunct to cytology in order to include malignancy as probable diagnosis, thus guiding the selection of patients for more invasive procedures.
Radjenovic-Petkovic
Tatjana
T
Clinic for Lung Disease, Clinical Center Nis, Serbia.
Pejcic
Tatjana
T
Nastasijević-Borovac
Desa
D
Rancic
Milan
M
Radojkovic
Danijela
D
Radojkovic
Milan
M
Djordjevic
Ivanka
I
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen