Carcinoembryonic antigen levels in colonic lesions

We evaluated the likelihood of tissues to be positive for carcinoembryonic antigen and the intensity of carcinoembryonic antigen staining in specimens of villous adenomas, mixed polypoid villous adenomas, polypoid adenomas, and diverticulitis using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. The presence of carcinoembryonic antigen could be demonstrated in all of the specimens; however, the intensity of staining varied. Villous adenomas were the most intensely stained, followed by mixed polypoid villous adenomas, polypoid adenomas, and diverticulitis. We conclude that (1) the intensity of tissue levels of carcinoembryonic antigen parallels the malignant potential of these different groups of lesions, (2) carcinoembryonic antigen intensity of mixed polypoid villous adenomas is more similar to villous adenomas than polypoid adenomas, and (3) the presence of carcinoembryonic antigen in diverticulitis is not a result of dysplasia.