Demonstration of carcinoembryonic antigen in bone marrow from patients with carcinoma

Primary and secondary tumour and bone marrow trephine biopsies from 20 patients with carcinomas were stained for carcinoembryonic antigen by the three stage immunoperoxidase method. Six marrow biopsies contained tumour deposits, five of which were positive for carcinoembryonic antigen. A further five marrow biopsies contained single carcinoembryonic antigen positive cells of uncertain origin. Carcinoembryonic antigen staining may be a useful adjunct to conventional histology in the diagnosis of marrow metastases.