[Histopathological study on hepatic metastases and blood CEA levels in patients with intestinal carcinoma]

In 37% of 177 cases with colo-rectal cancer, our original staining method succeeded in the detection of cancer cells invaded in the small vein vessels in the primary lesion, 35.4% of which metastasized to the liver. Cancer cells were found histologically in the portal vein in these cases. Serum CEA levels were abnormally high in the cases of vein invasion in 57%. Hematogenic metastases occurred in 90% in the cases of vein invasion with abnormal CEA level. Serum CEA level decreased after the resection of the involved intestine, but increased sharply when hematogenic metastases occurred, while the CEA level increased gradually and slowly in cases of local recurrences or peritoneal disseminations .