No abstract

While it cannot be envisaged that PAXgene will replace formalin in a routine clinical setting, for specific projects or immunodiagnostics involving biospecimens destined for immunohistochemical or histologic staining and DNA or RNA analyses, PAXgene is a viable option.

Serum specimens of 42 patients with pancreatitis (36, alcoholic; 6, nonalcoholic) were analyzed for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Eighteen patients (43%), all with alcoholic etiology, had positive assays. Of the CEA‐positive patients, 12 had mild‐to‐moderate liver disease, and 6 were clinically free of liver disease. CEA positivity did not correlate with levels of serum amylase or liver function tests. Quantitative levels of CEA were usually lower than those seen in disseminated pancreatic carcinoma. Accordingly, cautious interpretation of CEA positivity in pancreatitis is warranted. The explanation for the positivity is not known.