Clinical evaluation of the levels of CEA, CA15-3 and alpha-feto protein in malignant and benign pleural effusion

Abstract EN

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.