[Tumor markers. Personal experience--screening of breast cancer by determining CEA in nipple discharge]

Secondary prevention, detection and treatment at an early stage, may be the only means of controlling breast cancer. This is rational behind screening for breast cancer. We have previously reported that CEA measurement in nipple discharge is a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of nonpalpable breast cancer. As an extension, a dot-immunobinding assay was developed to screen a large number of patients with nipple discharge for nonpalpable breast cancer. This article is a review of the current status of CEA assay in nipple discharge for mass screening of breast cancer. False positive and negative cases will be also described.