Cerebrospinal fluid carcinoembryonic antigen and alphafetoprotein in patients with central nervous system neoplasia

A solid phase immunoassay was used to evaluate the levels of serum and cerebrospinal fluid of alphafetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen in 33 individuals treated for backache and headache with no evidence of organic neurological disease, 19 patients with primary CNS tumor (benign or malignant) and 22 with CNS metastasis from a solid tumor. AFP serum and CSF levels were found in trace amounts or slightly elevated not exceeding normal limits in all groups. Patients with CNS metastasis were found to have statistically significant higher CEA levels (both in serum and CSF) than the control group, and the patients with primary brain tumors. Patients with leptomeningeal dissemination had statistically significantly higher CEA CSF levels than did patients with primary tumors, and patients with parenchymal metastasis.