[The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in bronchial carcinoma before and after operation (author's transl)]

In 53 p.c. of 175 patients with bronchial carcinoma the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was elevated at the time of diagnosis. In patients with small well bordered tumors (T 1/2) 31 p.c. proved pathological CEA-values in comparison to 80 p.c. in patients with heamatogenic metastases. After radical tumor resection (36 patients) elevated CEA-levels returned to normal ranges within 5 weeks. No decrease could be observed after palliative operations (16 patients). If there existed haematogenic metastases normal CEA-values increased postoperative. Such an increase occured up to ten weeks before metastases could be found by other methods. In cases of bronchial carcinoma CEA-measurements are usefull to evaluate the effect of operation and in the follow up time. It should be carried out on principle in those patients which can be considered for a surgical therapy.