Best practice in primary care pathology: review 13

Area of Science:

• Clinical Medicine
• Oncology
• Laboratory Medicine

Background:

• Primary care physicians frequently encounter situations requiring tumour marker requests.
• Standardized guidance for requesting tumour markers like CEA, CA15-3, and CA19-9 in primary care is essential for accurate diagnosis and patient management.
• Existing literature and guidelines require synthesis to inform best practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize current best practices for requesting specific tumour markers in primary care.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations in an accessible question-and-answer format.
• To guide clinicians on the appropriate use of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3), and cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9).

Main Methods:

• A standardized literature search was conducted for national and international guidance notes, consensus statements, health policy documents, and evidence-based reviews.
• MEDLINE and EMBASE searches were performed to identify relevant primary research.
• Information was synthesized and presented in a question-and-answer format.

Main Results:

• The review consolidates recommendations for requesting CEA, CA15-3, and CA19-9 in primary care.
• Guidance is provided in a referenced question-and-answer format for practical application.
• The recommendations are based on a comprehensive review of scientific literature and clinical guidelines.

Conclusions:

• This best practice review offers a valuable resource for primary care clinicians regarding tumour marker requests.
• The question-and-answer format facilitates quick access to evidence-based recommendations.
• Regular updates will ensure the guidance remains current with new scientific information.