A study of CEA, CA 19-9 and CA 125 in biliary tract diseases

Sixty-six patients were classified into three groups; control group A was (n = 24), group B those with hepatolithiasis (n = 24) and group C those with the bile duct carcinoma (n = 18). All patients had accepted operation and the patients bile and serum were send for determination with radioimmuno assay. The positive rate of serum CEA were 4.17%, 37.5% and 66.67% for the control, hepatolithiasis and bile duct carcinoma groups respectively. The positive rate of serum CA 19-9 were 8.33%, 25% and 61.11% for the control, hepatolithiasis and bile duct carcinoma respectively. The positive rate of serum CA 125 were 5%, 0% and 31.25% for control, hepatolithiasis and bile duct carcinoma groups respectively. The sensitivity level of serum CEA, CA 19-9 and CA 125 for the bile duct carcinoma group was 66.67%, 61.11% and 31.25% respectively. The diagnostic accuracy for bile duct carcinoma with regard to bile CEA was 94.44% but the accuracy ratio was only 45.24%. The bile concentration of CA 19-9 level of more than 1200 ng/ml were 75% and 61.11% for the hepatolithiasis and bile duct carcinoma group and none in control group. The bile concentration of CA 125 more than 200 ng/ml was 43.75% in the bile duct carcinoma and none in control or hepatolithiasis group. Finally, the concentration of CA 19-9 will be effected not only by tumor itself but also by severe infection in the hepatolithiasis patients. The sensitivity of CA 125 was low but accuracy was high for the diagnosis of the bile duct carcinoma.