Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)

Description: Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the US and a leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women. This test measures the levels carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the blood to aid in the diagnosis of lung cancer.

CEA is a substance that is sometimes found in an increased amount in the blood of people who have certain cancers, other diseases, or who smoke.

Elevated CEA levels are found in a variety of cancers including colon, pancreatic, gastric, lung, and breast. However, an abnormal CEA blood level is specific neither for colon cancer nor for malignancy in general. It is also detected in benign conditions including cirrhosis, inflamatory bowel disease, chronic lung disease, and pancreatitis.

The CEA was found to be elevated in up to 19 percent of smokers and in 3 percent of a healthy control population. Thus, the test for CEA cannot substitute for a pathological diagnosis.

A significant deviation from the normal range may require further evaluation by your physician.

00142SST