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What Health Conditions Lead To Elevated CEA Levels?
Posted on
Mon, 25 Jun 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 25 Jun 2018
Answered on
Mon, 17 Jan 2022
Last reviewed on
Question : Hi there. I am 42 male with stage 3b colon cancer. Mildly Differentiated, and had 3 positive nodes out of 66 gathered. Clean margins. Because this was an emergency surgery, no preop cea was taken. But about five days after it was with a value of 1.0. This was back in October of 2017.
Last week i had another cea test done, first since October and it was 3.4. However i also have cystic fibrosis and was in hospital at the time with pneumonia, colitis, gastritis and a wbc of 16400. My lungs hurt to breathe as they were swollen. I had also colon wall thickening, gall bladder thickening, and bladder thickening related to my cf and colitis.
Two weeks ago i had a ct scan and it came back clear. Due to the cea should i retake it? Cant the other problems i have increase my cea? Should i be less concerned because my cea only went upby a little over two points as opposed to others who can jump 10 or more?
I have read mixed reviews of cea by different doctors in terms of how really reliable it is as it has a high degree of false alarms.
I have lost 30 pounds since my cancer dx and my cystic fibrosis has gotten worse since my cancer dx. I just wonder if all of this can explain my two point rise in cea or if i should be very worried right now. Thoughts?
Last week i had another cea test done, first since October and it was 3.4. However i also have cystic fibrosis and was in hospital at the time with pneumonia, colitis, gastritis and a wbc of 16400. My lungs hurt to breathe as they were swollen. I had also colon wall thickening, gall bladder thickening, and bladder thickening related to my cf and colitis.
Two weeks ago i had a ct scan and it came back clear. Due to the cea should i retake it? Cant the other problems i have increase my cea? Should i be less concerned because my cea only went upby a little over two points as opposed to others who can jump 10 or more?
I have read mixed reviews of cea by different doctors in terms of how really reliable it is as it has a high degree of false alarms.
I have lost 30 pounds since my cancer dx and my cystic fibrosis has gotten worse since my cancer dx. I just wonder if all of this can explain my two point rise in cea or if i should be very worried right now. Thoughts?
Brief Answer:
CEA LEVEL
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
In my opinion you have nothing to worry in your case at the moment that other exams and CT are clear.
Other conditions which can elevate CEA include smoking, infections, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver etc.
When CEA level becomes 10 ng/ml or more there is a chance that recurrence of colon cancer has happened.
In your case its due to inflammatory bowel disease and other infection you are having
Regards
CEA LEVEL
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
In my opinion you have nothing to worry in your case at the moment that other exams and CT are clear.
Other conditions which can elevate CEA include smoking, infections, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver etc.
When CEA level becomes 10 ng/ml or more there is a chance that recurrence of colon cancer has happened.
In your case its due to inflammatory bowel disease and other infection you are having
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Could my inflammation caused by cystic fibrosis and having pneumonia when the cea test was taken could that too cause an increase in cea? My lungs were very inflamed as it hurt to take a deep breath and cough.
Brief Answer:
CEA LEVEL
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Yes that can happens.When you feel better from your pulmonary infection repeat the test again
CEA LEVEL
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Yes that can happens.When you feel better from your pulmonary infection repeat the test again
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
I have another follow up: First I was wondering what the half life of the cea is. There seems to be a good deal of fluctuations from what i have read
Second, i just found out that the cea score back in October 2017 that the lab used a different assay method as well as a different device to perform the test on compared to the different lab used last week. I read a study online that was done where it said not to compare tests that use different methods due to statistically significant difference in scores.
So i was wondering your thoughts on what is the cea half life and your thoughts on different labs using different method assays.
I just found out on a previous CT scan it showed a 1.4 cm Choledochocele Cyst in my Common Bile Duct.
Can this type of cyst cause my ALP liver enzymes to go up and fluctuate? Is it possible that it can also affect CEA levels?
And how good is a CT scan at determining the difference between a cyst and cancer?
Second, i just found out that the cea score back in October 2017 that the lab used a different assay method as well as a different device to perform the test on compared to the different lab used last week. I read a study online that was done where it said not to compare tests that use different methods due to statistically significant difference in scores.
So i was wondering your thoughts on what is the cea half life and your thoughts on different labs using different method assays.
I just found out on a previous CT scan it showed a 1.4 cm Choledochocele Cyst in my Common Bile Duct.
Can this type of cyst cause my ALP liver enzymes to go up and fluctuate? Is it possible that it can also affect CEA levels?
And how good is a CT scan at determining the difference between a cyst and cancer?
Brief Answer:
CEA level
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
CEA Half-life in the Prediction of Recurrences after Colorectal Cancer Surgery
Ct scan can make the difference between cyst and cancer
Also the cyst can cause a rise of ALP and some cases when the infection of billary ducts exists can cause rising CEA too
CEA level
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
CEA Half-life in the Prediction of Recurrences after Colorectal Cancer Surgery
Ct scan can make the difference between cyst and cancer
Also the cyst can cause a rise of ALP and some cases when the infection of billary ducts exists can cause rising CEA too
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
And what is the cea half life? I read it was between 6-13 days correct?
Brief Answer:
CEA levels
Detailed Answer:
Yes it’s between 6-20 days
CEA levels
Detailed Answer:
Yes it’s between 6-20 days
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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