Clinical Evaluation of the Levels of CEA,CA15-3 and Alpha-Feto Protein in Malignant and Benign Pleural Effusion

Majeed Tawfiq Al-Sakkal, Nahla; Hammed A. Al-Kassir, Abdul; Anwer Salloum Marrow, Zina

	Clinical Evaluation of the Levels of CEA,CA15-3 and Alpha-Feto Protein in Malignant and Benign Pleural Effusion
Al-Kindy College Medical Journal
Article 1, Volume 4, Issue 2, 2008, Pages 57-62
Authors
Nahla Majeed Tawfiq Al-Sakkal; Abdul Hammed A. Al-Kassir; Zina Anwer Salloum Marrow
Abstract
Background: Pleural effusion is a common clinical problem.Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of Carcino embryonic antigen (CEA), CA 15- 3, and alpha-feto protein ( AFP ) as a tumor markers in serum and pleural effusion and evaluate the value of combining them as a diagnostic tools that are complementary to cytology in the diagnosis of malignancies .Methods: Forty patients (18 malignant and 22 benign pleural effusion) were included in this study .The serum and effusion levels of CEA, CA 15 – 3 and AFP were measured using immunoradiometric assay Results: from the 40 effusions studied 26 were exudates and 14 were transudates. The level of pleural effusions of CEA, CA 15 – 3 and AFP were increased above the cutoffs in 72.5%, 94.4 % and 5.5 % of tested samples with malignancies respectively.A direct strong significant correlation between serum and pleural fluid CEA, CA 15 – 3 and AFP was noted.Conclusion: Pleural effusion CEA is the most accurate marker for the diagnostic separation of malignant and benign. The combination of both CEA, CA 15 – 3 improves the sensitivity by up to 11 %.AFP has no role in the process.Key words: malignant Pleural effusions, tumor markers, CEA, CA 15 – 3, AFP
Keywords
malignant; pleural effusions; tumor markers; cea; afp

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