Carcinoembryonic Antigen in the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Follow-up of Focal Liver Lesions

Overview

Journal World J Gastrointest Surg

Publisher Baishideng Publishing Group

Specialty Gastroenterology

Date 2024 May 1

PMID 38690060

Authors

Osman Nuri Dilek

Dilara Irem Arslan Kahraman

Gokhan Kahraman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In this editorial review, we comment on the article published in the recent issue of the . Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a fetal glycoprotein and can be secreted in very small amounts from healthy adults after birth. CEA is widely used not only for diagnostic tumor markers but also importantly for the management of some gastrointestinal tumors. The most common clinical use is surveillance for the monitoring of colorectal carcinoma. However, CEA can become elevated in several malign or benign characterized pathologies. Serum CEA level may vary depending on the location of the lesion, whether it metastasizes or not, and its histopathological characteristics. It has been determined that cases with high preoperative CEA have a more aggressive course and the risk of metastasis to the lymph tissue and liver increases. In this editorial review, we focused on evaluating the role of CEA in clinical practice with a holistic approach, including the diagnostic and prognostic significance of CEA in patients with focal liver lesions, the role of CEA in follow-up after definitive surgery, and also hepatic resection for metastasis, and the management of all patients with raised CEA.

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