title: Diagnosis of congenital cervical cysts using carcinoembryonic antigen levels in cyst fluid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in the fluid of median or lateral cervical cysts can improve diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cyst fluid CEA levels in 10 cases of median cervical or lateral cervical cysts based on pathological diagnoses (congenital cervical cyst group) were measured. These results were compared with the CEA levels of the control group comprising 10 cases of other head and neck cyst disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CEA levels in nine out of ten cases in the congenital cervical cyst group were ≥10,000ng/mL. The CEA level in the remaining case was 8290ng/mL. In contrast, the CEA levels were low in the control group (>1000ng/mL). The optimal cut-off level between these groups was 8290ng/mL in the receiver operating characteristic curve (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cyst fluid CEA levels may assist in the diagnosis of median and lateral cervical cysts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Medical University School of Medicine 6-7-1, Nishi-shinjyuku, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan. ujimotokn@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ujimoto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Konomi
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tokashiki
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Kiyoaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsukahara
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D001935:Branchioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D020420:Cyst Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D003560:Cysts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen