Carcinoembryonic antigen levels in pancreatic carcinoma

Plasma carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were correlated with the stage of the tumor in 43 patients who underwent laparotomy for histologically proven pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Elevated CEA levels were noted in one third of the patients with tumors localized to the pancreas. When the carcinoma had extended beyond the pancreas or distant metastases were present, 78% of patients had elevated levels. Of the entire group of patients, 72% had elevated CEA levels.