Cholangiocarcinoma laboratory findings
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Blood tests of liver function in patients with cholangiocarcinoma often reveal a so-called "obstructive picture", with elevated bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma glutamyl transferase levels and relatively normal transaminase levels. Such laboratory findings suggest obstruction of the bile ducts, rather than inflammation or infection of the liver, as the primary cause of the jaundice.[1]
Laboratory Findings
Laboratory tests for cholangiocarcinoma include the following:
Carcinoembryonic antigen
- Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are often elevated, but not sensitive or specific enough to be used as a general screening tool. However, they may be useful in conjunction with imaging methods in supporting a suspected diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma.[2]
Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9)
- CA 19-9 is a protein released by cancers of the pancreas and bile ducts.
- Levels are elevated in pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma.
- CA 19-9 levels are not specific enough to be used as a screening test.
- However, it can be used as a tumor marker to determine response to chemotherapy.
References
- ↑ Feldman, pp. 1493–1496.
- ↑ Studies of the performance of serum markers for cholangiocarcinoma (such as carcinoembryonic antigen and CA19-9) in patients with and without primary sclerosing cholangitis include the following:
- Nehls O, Gregor M, Klump B (2004). "Serum and bile markers for cholangiocarcinoma". Semin Liver Dis. 24 (2): 139–54. PMID 15192787.
- Siqueira E, Schoen R, Silverman W, Martin J, Rabinovitz M, Weissfeld J, Abu-Elmaagd K, Madariaga J, Slivka A, Martini J (2002). "Detecting cholangiocarcinoma in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis". Gastrointest Endosc. 56 (1): 40–7. PMID 12085033.
- Levy C, Lymp J, Angulo P, Gores G, Larusso N, Lindor K (2005). "The value of serum CA 19-9 in predicting cholangiocarcinomas in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis". Dig Dis Sci. 50 (9): 1734–40. PMID 16133981.
- Patel A, Harnois D, Klee G, LaRusso N, Gores G (2000). "The utility of CA 19-9 in the diagnoses of cholangiocarcinoma in patients without primary sclerosing cholangitis". Am J Gastroenterol. 95 (1): 204–7. PMID 10638584.