Tumor markers in the diagnosis of malignant ascitic fluid

Abstract EN

Ascetic fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) alpha feto protein (AFP), B2 macroglobulin (fcM) and fibronectin (FN) were measured in one hundred and sixty one patients, malignant group (seventy four), and benign group (eighty seven) for comparison.

Ascetic fluid CEA and AFP showed significant elevation in total malignant patients group (P<0.001) and its subgroup s (P<0.001) (Primary, secondary hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal malignancies) compared to total benign patients group.

Ascetic fluid CEA level revealed significant elevation (P<0.04) in primary gastrointestinal subgroup compared to primary hepatobiliary subgroup.

Ascetic fluid AFP level showed significant elevation in primary hepatobiliary carcinoma patients (P<0.05, <0.007, <0.007) compared to other malignant subgroup s (primary gastrointestinal, secondary gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary) Ascetic fluid B2M showed significant elevation in total malignant group (P<0.001) compared to total benign patients group , also in primary subgroup s compared to secondary subgroups (P<0.05, <0.05).

Ascetic fluid FN level revealed significant elevation in total malignant group (P< 0.03) compared to total benign patients group and also in secondary hepatobiliary subgroup compared to primary hepatobiliary subgroup (P<0 05) Furthermore FN was elevated in tuberculous group compared to cirrhotic liver group (<0.001) and to cardiac patients group (P<0.03).

F32Mwas also elevated in cardiac disease subgroup compared to tuberculous (P<0.001) and to liver cirrhosis (P<0.001) subgroup s.

This finding made FN and fJ2M useless as a tumor marker particularly in the oxidative types of ascites.

We therefore conclude that the use of one tumor marker particularly in the oxidative types of ascites.

We therefore conclude that the use of one tumor marker in ascetic fluid cannot be reliable and more than one marker is needed for a better differentiation.