[Urachal carcinoma producing carcinoembryonic antigen: a case report]

We report a case of urachal carcinoma with elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level in a 36-year-old man. En bloc resection was performed. The production of CEA was proved histologically. The level of serum CEA returned to the normal value after operation. Seventeen postoperative months the level of serum CEA was noted to be elevated again, and 2 months later symptoms appeared and tumor recurrence was revealed on computer tomographic scan. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy were done without any noticeable response. He died of tumor progression. In our case, serum CEA gave useful information as a tumor marker. It showed specificity for the tumor and helped evaluation of tumor resection as well as detection of tumor recurrence.