Serum carcinoembryonic antigen elevation in benign lung diseases

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pulmonology
• Clinical Chemistry

Background:

• Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a biomarker used in lung cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment evaluation.
• Elevated CEA levels can occur in benign lung diseases (BLD), potentially interfering with accurate diagnosis.
• Variability in reported CEA positive rates in BLD necessitates large-scale studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of elevated CEA levels in a large cohort of patients with benign lung diseases.
• To identify specific benign lung conditions and patient factors associated with elevated CEA.
• To provide data for better interpretation of CEA levels in patients with lung conditions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 4796 patients diagnosed with benign lung diseases.
• Assessment of serum Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels.
• Statistical analysis to determine positive rates, correlations with disease types, age, and comorbidities.

Main Results:

• Elevated CEA levels were found in 3.1% of BLD patients; only 0.06% exceeded 20 ng/mL.
• CEA elevations were most common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonitis, and interstitial lung disease, and correlated with older age.
• Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis had the highest positive rate (22.22%), while pulmonary tuberculosis had the lowest (0.53%).
• Comorbidities, particularly circulatory and endocrine diseases (including diabetes), were frequent in patients with elevated CEA.

Conclusions:

• Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) shows a low positive rate in benign lung diseases, with very few cases exceeding 20 ng/mL.
• Elevated CEA in lung disease patients warrants a comprehensive evaluation considering the specific lung condition, patient age, and co-existing diseases.