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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · South Asian J Cancer 2022; 11(02): 118-120
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731902
Original Article
Gastrointestinal Cancer

Role of Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen in Predicting Recurrent Disease following Curative Resection of Rectal Cancer

Authors

  • Srikanth Soma

    1   Department of Surgical Oncology, Chalmeda Anand Rao Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Karimnagar, Telangana, India

  • Sachin Gurnule

    2   Department of Community Medicine, Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, Telangana, India
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Abstract

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Srikanth Soma

Introduction Surveillance of patients following definitive treatment of rectal malignancy is based on the predicament that early detection of recurrence may provide an opportunity for cure. Available methods for monitoring include clinical, radiological, and serum tests. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of CEA in detecting recurrences.

Materials and Methods Retrospective analysis of patients with adenocarcinoma rectum treated with curative intent between 2012 to 2020 at our institute was performed. Postoperatively, patients were followed with CEA measurements according to our institution protocol and elevation of serum CEA above 5 ng/dL was considered as suspicious of recurrence.

Results One hundred ninety patients who received curative treatment were deemed eligible for the analysis. Among these 61 patients had recurrences during the follow-up period and postoperative CEA measurements at the time of recurrence were analyzed in all the patients. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of postoperative CEA to detect recurrences are 81.9, 92.2, 83.3, and 91.5%, respectively.

Conclusion CEA surveillance following definitive management of rectal cancer detects recurrences in majority of the patients and hence strongly recommended.

Keywords

carcinoembryonic antigen - early detection - rectal cancer - recurrence - serum CEA


Publication History

Article published online:
25 April 2022

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