Papers And Originals
Role of Serial Plasma C.E.A. Assays in Detection of Recurrent and Metastatic Colorectal Carcinomas
Br Med J 1974; 4 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.4.5941.382 (Published 16 November 1974) Cite this as: Br Med J 1974;4:382
- A. M. Mackay,
- S. Patel,
- S. Carter,
- U. Stevens,
- D. J. R. Laurence,
- E. H. Cooper,
- A. M. Neville
Abstract
Serial estimations of plasma carcinoembryonic antigen (C.E.A.) levels have been carried out in 220 patients with colorectal carcinomas who had potentially and apparently curative surgery. In a two-year follow-up period 53 patients developed recurrences or metastases. In 36 of these patients sustained rises in plasma C.E.A. titres occurred synchronously with or between three and 18 months before the clinical detection of recurrences or metastases. The use of serial plasma C.E.A. assays is therefore recommended as an additional diagnostic aid for the earlier detection of recurrent or metastatic colorectal carcinomas.