What does high CEA levels mean?
What does high CEA levels mean?
What does high CEA levels mean?
A high level of CEA can be a sign of certain types of cancers. These include cancers of the colon and rectum, prostate, ovary, lung, thyroid, or liver. High CEA levels may also be a sign of some noncancerous conditions, such as cirrhosis, noncancerous breast disease, and emphysema.
What causes increased CEA?
Benign conditions which can elevate CEA include smoking, infections, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and some benign tumors in the same organs in which an elevated CEA indicates cancer.
Why would a doctor order a CEA test?
A carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test is a blood test used to help diagnose and manage certain types of cancers. The CEA test is used especially for cancers of the large intestine and rectum. Your doctor can also use the test results to help determine if a cancer treatment is working.
How reliable is a CEA blood test?
Sensitivity of CEA ranged from 17.4 % to 100 %, specificity ranged from 66.1 % to 98.4 %, positive predictive value ranged from 45.8 % to 95.2% and negative predictive value ranged from 74.5 % to 100 %.
Does CEA increase with age?
This study showed that elderly people in their 80s, in apparent good health, had higher levels of CEA (3.0 +/- 1.4 ng/ml) than younger people. These levels were shown to be significantly increased in a large number of non-malignant diseases.
Why does CEA go up and down?
Carcinoembryonic Antigen, also called CEA, is a protein that may be elevated in many colorectal cancer patients and is detected in the blood. CEA levels are expected to go down in patients who have had surgery to remove their tumor. An elevated CEA may indicate a recurrence of your cancer.
How accurate is a CEA test?
Table 1
| Final CEA measurement (95% CI) | All CEA measurements (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Specificity | 97.5% (95.5–98.6%) | 93.3% (90.6–95.3%) |
| Positive predictive value | 81.0% (68.7–89.4%) | 61.9% (50.6–72.1%) |
| Negative predictive value | 89.8% (86.8–92.2%) | 89.6% (86.5–92.0%) |
| Positive likelihood ratio | 19.5 (10.8–35.3) | 7.5 (5.1–11.0) |
What does it mean when your CEA level is high?
A CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) test measures the level of CEA in your blood or other body fluids. High levels can be a sign of cancer. The test is most often used to see if cancer treatment is effective and whether cancer has spread. Learn more.
When do you need A CEA blood test?
The CEA blood level may be increased in certain types of cancer and non-cancerous (benign) conditions. A CEA test is most commonly used for colorectal cancer. A CEA test is usually a blood test that measures the amount of CEA protein in the blood. A sample of blood is taken by inserting a needle into the vein in your arm.
What happens to CEA levels after cancer treatment?
An increased CEA value can occur in both cancers and non-cancerous conditions. The CEA blood levels are often increased in colorectal cancer and may be increased in other cancers including: After treatment, a return to a normal CEA level that had been elevated usually means that the cancer has responded to treatment.
Where does CEA come from in the body?
CEA is a type of protein in the body. Babies in the womb have high levels of it. After birth, levels drop way down. Healthy adults have a very low level, but some types of cancer can cause it to rise.
What causes Elevated CEA level?
While high CEA levels can indicate that cancer is present, they can also point to other medical conditions. Kidney failure, inflammatory bowel disease, cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, and peptic ulcer disease are all known to cause elevated CEA levels.
What affects CEA levels?
Both malignant and benign cancers can increase the CEA levels. Apart from the colon and rectum other cancers that can cause an elevated CEA level are: thyroid, stomach, breast, pancreas and ovarian cancer. Smoking, infections and bowel disorders can also lead to elevated CEA levels.
and/or the presence of cancer. The “CEA” count can go up or down for many reasons, including. (but not limited to) dietary changes. It’s for that reason, that changes. in the CEA should not be taken too seriously if one ignores all. the other markers that the presence of cancer can change.
What is a high CEA?
A very high CEA level (above 20 ng/ml) is an indication of highly spread cancer. CEA tests are mainly used to measure the success of cancer surgery. An elevated CEA level is likely to fall to normal after a successful surgery. Rising CEA levels is an indication of progressing or recurrence of cancer.