Correlation between the results of carcinoembryonal antigen (CEA) test and the clinical stage of colorectal carcinoma.

: Correlation between results of CEA test and clinical stage of colorectal carcinoma is described. No correlation was found between the different stages and the actual CEA titre. Normalization of an increased preoperative serum CEA level indicated, however, nearly always the radical character of the intervention. Critically high (above 30 ng/per ml) CEA value observed in Dukes' stages C and D can be considered bad prognostic signs. Patients like these died within one year. Results of CEA tests are also useful complementary data contributing to the diagnosis of recurrence or distant metastases.