1Senior Resident, Dept. of Biochemistry, IGIMS, Patna-800014
2Professor & HOD, Dept. of Biochemistry, IGIMS, Patna-800014
3Professor, Dept. of Biochemistry, IGIMS, Patna-800014
4Associate Professor, Dept. of Biochemistry, IGIMS, Patna-800014
5Associate Professor, Dept. of Biochemistry, IGIMS, Patna-800014
6PG, Dept. of Biochemistry, IGIMS, Patna-800014
Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) is a sensitive marker for pancreatic and hepatobiliary malignancies. The highest frequency of elevated serum CA 19-9 levels is found among patients with pancreatic cancer. CA 19-9 has recently been demonstrated to be a marker of digestive tract malignancies. The diagnostic utility of CA 19-9 has been thoroughly evaluated and revised more than once over the past years in the context of pathological conditions related to the gastrointestinal tract. Our study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic usage of CA 19-9 levels in the serum of patients affected with malignant diseases associated with the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary system.
Our study was conducted to assess the diagnostic utility of serum CA 19-9 values in the diagnosis of various gastrointestinal malignant diseases. A total of 44 patients admitted to various surgical units and the critical care units were randomly selected and the sera analyzed for levels of CA 19-9.
CA 19-9 levels in the serum were found to be elevated in 60%, 50%, 85% and 80% of patients with Stomach/Upper GI, Liver/Gall Bladder, Pancreas and Colorectal malignancies respectively, with the normal cut-off values at 35 U/ml.
The serum levels of CA 19-9 are practically elevated in all malignant diseases associated with the Gastrointestinal System, and thus, at current cut-off values, this marker is at best, non-specific.
Sialyl-Lewis-A, Carbohydrate Antigen, Specific, Tumor Marker
