Diagnostic value of tumoral markers in serous effusions. Carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha1-acidglycoprotein, alpha-fetoprotein, phosphohexose isomerase, and Beta2-microglobulin

Abstract

In order to discriminate between benign and malignant effusions, the value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha1‐acidglycoprotein (AGP), alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP), phosphohexose isomerase (PHI), and beta2‐microglobulin (B2M) has been estimated in serous effusions in a group of 106 patients, 30 with a malignant and 76 with a benign effusion. Mean CEA and AGP levels in malignant effusions were significantly higher than in benign effusions; no significant differences of mean PHI, AFP and B2M levels of benign and malignant effusions were found. CEA level estimations were useful for confirming malignancy in 27% of malignant effusions but in only 7.5% of all effusions, and AGP and PHI for excluding it in 37.5 and 36.0% of all effusions, respectively. With the combination of CEA with AGP or PHI, a correct diagnosis was achieved in only 45 and 44% of all effusions, respectively. The combination of AFP or B2M with CEA, AGP or PHI did not improve the discriminative value for differentiating malignant and benign effusions. Cancer 50:1783–1788, 1982.

Correlation of Tumour Markers in Ascitic Fluid and Serum: Are Measurements of Ascitic Tumour Markers a Futile Attempt?

“…In fact some studies have concluded that the measurement of ascitic tumour markers does not improve the discriminative ability of malignant effusions. 7,8,15,20 Nevertheless, the present study found that AFP levels were higher in serum than in ascitic fluid and this agrees with the view that AFP levels are always higher in serum than in ascites and are much more sensitive than ascitic cytology in detecting hepatocellular carcinoma. 2 Benign diseases, especially liver cirrhosis, tuberculous peritonitis or nephrotic syndrome have also been the focus for ascitic fluid tumour marker analysis.…”

Value of combined detection of AFU and TCH in differential diagnosis between malignant and non-tuberculous benign ascites

“…Therefore, complete separation between malignant ascites and nonmalignant ascites has not been always possible. To increase diagnostic efficiency, cytologic evaluation has been coupled with the analysis in both serum and ascitic fluid for total protein [10,11], various enzymes [9], fibronectin [11,12], tumor antigens [13,14], and lipids [15][16][17], etc.…”

Diagnostic value of tumoural markers in pleural effusions

“…CEA is an oncofetal antigen that increases most frequently in colorectal cancer, and association of its level with tumour stage was shown in lung cancer (3). CEA level increase was shown in 34–88% of the pleural effusion associated with malignancy (2,21). It was stated that the diagnostic value of CEA was especially important in malignancy cases with cytologically negative of pleural effusions (22).…”