[Squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels in patients with laryngeal cancer]

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCAg) is one of the most common markers used in diagnosis of head and neck cancer and larynx cancer. We tested correlations between level of SCC Ag and tumor size, presence of lymph node metastasis, clinical advances of tumour and histopathological diagnosis. Pretreatment level of SCC antigen was evaluated in 34 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. Microparticle enzyme immunoassay was used to measure the SCCAg level. Elevated SCCAg serum levels were found in 41% of patients. The magnitude of the marker elevations were correlated with lymph node metastases (N0 versus N2, and N1 versus N2). Our date indicate that in patients with larynx cancer SCCAg does not appear to be a sensitive marker in the primary diagnosis. However, seem to be useful marker for monitoring nodal invasion.