Test Overview
The
carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test measures the amount of this
protein that may appear in the blood of some people
who have certain kinds of cancers, especially large intestine (colon and rectal) cancer. It may also be present in people with cancer of the
pancreas, breast, ovary, or lung.
CEA is
normally produced during the development of a
fetus. The production of CEA stops before birth, and
it usually is not present in the blood of healthy adults.
Why It Is Done
The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test
is used to:
- Find how widespread cancer is for some types of
the disease, especially colon cancer.
- Check the success of
treatment for colon cancer.
- CEA levels may be measured both before and
after surgery to evaluate both the success of the surgery and the person's
chances of recovery.
- CEA levels may be measured during treatment
with medicines to destroy cancer cells (chemotherapy).
This provides information about how well the treatment is working.
- Check to see if cancer has returned after
treatment.
How To Prepare
You do not need to do anything before
you have this test.
Talk to your doctor about any concerns you
have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what
the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill
out the
medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).
How It Is Done
The health professional taking a sample
of your blood will:
- Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to
stop the flow of blood. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is
easier to put a needle into the vein.
- Clean the needle site with
alcohol.
- Put the needle into the vein. More than one needle stick
may be needed.
- Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with
blood.
- Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is
collected.
- Put a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as
the needle is removed.
- Put pressure to the site and then put on a
bandage.
How It Feels
The blood sample is taken from a vein in
your arm. An elastic band is wrapped around your upper arm. It may feel tight.
You may feel nothing at all from the needle, or you may feel a quick sting or
pinch.
Risks
There is very little chance of a problem from
having blood drawn from a vein.
- You may get a small bruise at the site. You can
lower the chance of bruising by keeping pressure on the site for several
minutes.
- In rare cases, the vein may become swollen after the
blood sample is taken. This problem is called phlebitis. A warm compress can be
used several times a day to treat this.
- Ongoing bleeding can be a
problem for people with bleeding disorders. Aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), and
other blood-thinning medicines can make bleeding more likely. If you have
bleeding or clotting problems, or if you take blood-thinning medicine, tell
your doctor before your blood sample is taken.
Results
The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test
measures the amount of this
protein that may appear in the blood of some people
who have certain kinds of cancers, especially large intestine (colon and rectal) cancer. It may also be present in people with cancer of the
pancreas, breast, ovary, or lung.
Results
are usually available in 1 to 3 days.
Normal
The normal values listed here—called a reference range—are just a guide. These ranges vary from lab to lab, and your lab may have a different range for what’s normal. Your lab report should contain the range your lab uses. Also, your doctor will evaluate your results based on your health and other factors. This means that a value that falls outside the normal values listed here may still be normal for you or your lab.
Many conditions can change your CEA levels. Your
doctor will discuss any significant abnormal results with you in relation to
your symptoms and medical history.
Most cancers do not produce
this protein, so your CEA may be normal even though you have cancer.
High values
- Cancer of the colon, lung, pancreas, breast,
or ovary may be present.
- Cancer may not be responding to
treatment.
- Cancer may have returned after treatment. A steadily
rising CEA may be the first sign that cancer has come back after treatment.
Also, people with advanced cancer or cancer that has spread to other parts of
the body (metastatic cancer) may have high CEA levels if their original cancer
produced this protein before treatment.
- Another condition or
disease is present, such as
cirrhosis,
hepatitis, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease,
peptic ulcer disease,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), or an
obstructed bile duct.
What Affects the Test
Heavy smoking affects the test
results.
What To Think About
- The CEA blood test is not reliable for
diagnosing cancer or as a screening test for early detection of
cancer.
- CEA testing is a reliable test for recurrent colon cancer
if the original cancer produced this protein before treatment.
- Most
types of cancer do not produce a high CEA. Having a normal CEA level does not
mean that you do not have cancer.
- CEA levels usually return to
near-normal levels within 6 weeks of starting treatment if cancer treatment is
successful.
- Measuring the amount of CEA in other body fluids, such as
abdominal fluid (peritoneal fluid) or the fluid around the brain and spinal
cord (cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF), can determine whether
cancer has spread to that part of the body.
- Other diseases, such as
COPD, cirrhosis, and
Crohn's disease, may also raise CEA blood levels.
- CEA levels are usually higher in smokers than in people who do not
smoke.
References
Citations
- Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2010). Mosby’s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier.
Other Works Consulted
- Chernecky CC, Berger BJ (2008). Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures, 5th ed. St. Louis:
Saunders.
- Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2010). Mosby’s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology |
|---|
| Last Revised | April 8, 2011 |
|---|
Seton is proud to have four hospitals – the only hospitals in Central Texas - that have earned the Magnet designation, the highest award for nursing excellence given by the American Nurses Association.