title: [Diagnostic capability of carcinoembryonic antigen elevation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is little information on the oncologic diagnostic accuracy of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels more than 3-fold above normal.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of underlying cancer in patients with mild CEA elevation and the mean cost per patient of CEA determination.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was carried out in all patients with CEA elevation (3-10 ng/ml) and suspicion of cancer referred to the gastroenterology or internal medicine outpatient units from 2001 to 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 100 patients (60 men and 40 women), with a mean age of 67.4 ± 14.2 years and baseline CEA of 5.8 ± 1.7 ng/ml. The most important symptoms and signs were laboratory abnormalities (19 patients [19%]). Cancer was diagnosed in 4 patients (one gastric, 2 lung and one colon). Among patients without malignancies, 49 patients (49%) had no related processes, and 47 (47%) had benign diseases. During follow-up, one laryngeal cancer, one acute myeloid leukemia, and one colon cancer were detected (54.3 ± 24.6 months). We found no differences between baseline CEA levels in patients with and without cancer (6.6 ± 2.4 vs. 5.8 ± 1.7 ng/ml, p = 0.2). The mean cost per patient was 503.6 ± 257.6 €.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cancer was detected in a small proportion (7%) of patients with mild CEA elevation. The study of these patients is directly and indirectly associated with a not inconsiderable cost.
authors.affiliation: Aparato Digestivo. Hospital Alta Resolución Alcaudete, Agencia Sanitaria Alto Guadalquivir, Consejería de Salud y Bienestar Social, Junta de Andalucía. Electronic address: dracerez@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cerezo Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Medicina Interna, Hospital Alta Resolución Alcaudete, Agencia Sanitaria Alto Guadalquivir, Consejería de Salud y Bienestar Social, Junta de Andalucía.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rosa Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, GranadaEspaña.
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lobón Hernández
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, GranadaEspaña.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Gómez Jiménez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000191:economics; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen
keywords: Antígeno carcinoembrionario; Carcinoembryonic antigen; Marcadores tumorales; Serum tumor markers