Marked Elevation of Carcinoembryonic Antigen Without an Identified Primary Gastrointestinal Tumor

Authors

Joshua K. Salabei, HCA HealthcareFollow
Dhaval Upadhyay, HCA HealthcareFollow
Asad Haider, HCA HealthcareFollow
Anthony Nanajian, HCA HealthcareFollow
Leora Frimer, HCA HealthcareFollow
Kipson Richard Charles, HCA HealthcareFollow
Zeeshan H. Ismail, HCA HealthcareFollow
Selina Imboywa, HCA HealthcareFollow
Awaad Khan, HCA HealthcareFollow
Nundia Louis, HCA HealthcareFollow
Uma G. Iyer, HCA HealthcareFollow

Division

North Florida

Hospital

North Florida Regional Medical Center

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

12-22-2021

Keywords

immunohistochemistry staining, metastatic adenocarcinoma of unknown primary, colorectal, cea, carcinoembryonic antigen

Disciplines

Diagnosis | Internal Medicine | Neoplasms

Abstract

Whether profound carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) elevations, such as > 20 times the upper limit of normal, are of diagnostic use remain unknown. Herein, we present a case of a 55-year-old female with profound serum CEA elevation and multiple pelvic masses but with no evidence of a primary gastrointestinal tumor following upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. Subsequent immunostaining of resected pelvic masses confirmed adenocarcinoma of colorectal origin. This case report highlights the possible diagnostic role of profound CEA elevation, particularly in cases of unknown primary tumors.

Publisher or Conference

Cureus

Recommended Citation

Salabei JK, Upadhyay D, Haider A, et al. Marked Elevation of Carcinoembryonic Antigen Without an Identified Primary Gastrointestinal Tumor. Cureus. 2021;13(12):e20621. doi:10.7759/cureus.20621