Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)

How to Cite This Chapter: Don-Wauchope A, Chetty VT, Ivica J, Kavsak P, Khan WI, Lafreniere M, Nouri K, Solnica B. Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA). McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine. Kraków: Medycyna Praktyczna. https://empendium.com/mcmtextbook/chapter/B31.1269.3.7.14. Accessed December 05, 2025.
Last Reviewed: May 9, 2022
Last Updated: May 9, 2022
Chapter Information

For a brief introduction and guide to abbreviations, see Laboratory Tests: General Remarks.

Analyte [material]

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) [S/P]

Reference range, target level, or decision threshold

Method dependent!!!

Interpretation of results

↑ Colorectal, breast, lung, gastric, pancreatic, medullary thyroid, head and neck, and liver cancers; lymphomas; melanoma; PUD; IBD; pancreatitis; hypothyroidism; cirrhosis; obstructive jaundice; tobacco smoking

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