[Carcinoembryonic antigen as a control parameter in cryosurgical treatments of patients with rectal carcinoma]

The monitoring power of CEA during cryotherapeutic management was investigated in a group of 39 patients with inoperable cancer of the rectum. By the results it is concluded that the determination of serial serum CEA levels during cryosurgery is not only a useful parameter of the results of local treatment but also a sensitive indicator of tumor metastases.