Radiology, Vol 184, 717-720, Copyright © 1992 by Radiological Society of North America
Measurement of tissue carcinoembryonic antigen levels from fine-needle biopsy specimens: technique and clinical usefulness
MJ Lee, PR Mueller, SL Dawson, DT McLaughlin, T Kinney, PF Hahn, S Saini and GS Gazelle
Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
Levels of tissue carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in 54 abdominal fine-
needle biopsy specimens from 50 patients were measured to ascertain the use
of tissue CEA levels in diagnosis of malignancy. Biopsy was performed in
the following sites: liver (n = 34), retroperitoneum (n = 8), adrenal gland
(n = 3), pancreas (n = 2), omentum (n = 2), pelvis (n = 2), spleen (n = 2),
and stomach (n = 1). Histologic findings proved malignancy in 39 patients
and benign disease in 11 patients. In these 11 patients, the mean levels of
tissue CEA were lower than the normal level of serum CEA (3 ng/mL). Tissue
CEA levels were higher than serum CEA levels in nine patients with colonic
carcinoma and in 12 of 16 patients with noncolonic CEA-secreting
malignancies. Four patients with noncolonic CEA-secreting malignancies had
tissue CEA levels within the normal range (less than 3 ng/mL). Tissue CEA
levels were also normal in 13 patients with various non-CEA-secreting
tumors. Tissue CEA levels may prove useful in biopsy of necrotic or cystic
lesions and assessment of response to ablative therapy for colon
metastases.
