Home›New Delhi›Max Lab›Carcino Embryonic Antigen

Content created by

Written by

Dr. Shreya Gupta

BDS, MDS - Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology

Reviewed by

Dr. Ashish Ranjan

MBBS, MD (Pharmacology)

Want to know more?
Read our Editorial Policy

Carcino Embryonic Antigen

(CEA)

ADD TO CART

You need to provide

Blood

This test is for

Male, Female

Test Preparation

No special preparation required

Overview

What is CEA?

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a tumor marker protein that is normally present at very low levels in the blood in adults. However, in certain cases like cancer, the levels may get elevated. This test measures the amount of CEA in the blood to help evaluate individuals diagnosed with cancer. Originally, it was thought that CEA was a specific marker for colon cancer, but further study has shown that an increase in CEA may be seen in a wide variety of other cancers and some non-cancer-related conditions, such as inflammation, cirrhosis, peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis, rectal polyps, emphysema, and benign breast disease, and in smokers.

Why is CEA done?

The carcinoembryonic antigen test is done:

To monitor cancer treatment (colon, pancreas, breast, lung, ovarian, medullary thyroid, or other cancer) including response to therapy and recurrence
As an indicator of the amount of cancer or size of tumor present (tumor burden)
To assist in cancer staging
As follow-up to a positive screening test for cancer: to compare whether the level falls to normal (indicating that the cancer was all likely removed) after treatment for cancer

What does CEA Measure?

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a protein that is present in certain tissues of a developing baby (fetus). By the time a baby is born, the levels of this protein drop very low, while in adults CEA is normally present at very low levels in the blood but may get elevated with certain types of cancer.

CEA is a tumor marker for colon cancer and a variety of other cancers like pancreas, breast, lung, ovarian, medullary thyroid, or other cancer. CEA can also be increased in some non-cancer-related conditions, such as inflammation, cirrhosis, peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis, rectal polyps, emphysema, benign breast disease, and in smokers. Since it is non-specific and can increase in a variety of other conditions, it is not useful as a general cancer screening tool. However, it does help to evaluate and monitor response to cancer treatment. It also acts as an initial baseline test for CEA and then subsequent serial testing of CEA may be performed.

Interpreting CEA results

Interpretations

Following is the normal range:

Non-smoker adult: less than 2.5 ng/mL

Smoker adult: less than 5.0 ng/ml (in case of smokers, slightly higher levels of CEA can be considered as normal)

CEA levels can increase in both cancerous and non-cancerous conditions.

· The most frequent cancer which causes an increased CEA is cancer of the colon and rectum. Others include cancers of the pancreas, stomach, breast, lung, and medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, and ovarian cancer.

· Non-cancerous conditions that can show elevated 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.

· Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause a temporary rise in CEA due to the death of tumor cells and the release of CEA into the bloodstream.

Answers to Patient Concerns & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about CEA

Frequently Asked Questions about Carcino Embryonic Antigen

Q. What does the CEA test result mean?

The implications of test results include monitoring of cancer treatment. Initially elevated levels of CEA when get decreased after surgery indicate that the cancer has been successfully treated. A steadily rising CEA level is often the first sign of tumor recurrence. For staging - On initial testing, people with smaller and early-stage tumors are likely to have a normal or only slightly elevated CEA levels. People with larger tumors (tumor burden), later-stage cancer, or tumors that have spread throughout the body are more likely to have increased CEA levels. For testing of metastasis - Presence of CEA in body fluid other than blood results in increased growth of cancer.

Q. What are the drawbacks of CEA test?

CEA is not a very effective screening test for hidden (occult) cancer since early tumors may not cause significant blood elevations. Also, there are cases where many tumors never cause an abnormal blood level, even in advanced disease.

Q. How is the blood sample taken?

The healthcare provider takes a blood sample from the arm. The site from where the blood is to be withdrawn is cleaned with a swab of rubbing alcohol. This is then followed by inserting a small needle which has a tube attached to it for collecting blood. Once the sufficient blood for analysis is withdrawn, the needle is removed. The site is then covered with a gauze pad.

Q. Is there any risk associated with the withdrawal of blood sample procedure?

As such there is no risk but in few cases, bruising, bleeding, and infection at the puncture site can be seen. In very few cases, there can be swelling of the vein after the blood is withdrawn.

+ more

About Max Lab

3.8

NABL

NABH

ISO

Max Lab runs 11 NABL accredited, 24×7 operational laboratories in Delhi NCR, Punjab and Uttaranchal. Our labs are equipped with fully automated state-of-art technology and infrastructure to achieve the highest level of excellence and quality results. With over 500 highly trained staff and over 70 doctors who are trained in various sub-specialities at the best institutes in India and overseas, Max Lab boasts of having highly qualified haematologists, histopathologists, biochemists and...

Know More

Available at Other Labs

4.9

ISO, NABL

20% Off

MRP ~~₹600~~

₹480

Select