The CEA test in urologic cancer: an evaluation and a review

The diagnostic value of the carcinoembryonic antigen test was evaluated in 2,029 blood and urine samples from 308 urologic cancer patients, 13 patients with nonurologic cancer, 20 urologic patients with nonmalignant disease, and in 30 controls. The blood CEA test was positive in 50% of patients with active urologic malignancy and in 35% of patients with inactive malignancy. The urine CEA test was elevated only in patients with active bladder cancer but most of these patients had concurrently infected urines. At the present time, the CEA test does not reflect the accuracy necessary for an acceptable diagnostic test for the detection of urologic cancer.