The diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma is often difficuit, making management
approaches problematic. A reliable serum tumor marker for cholangiocarcinoma
would be a useful additional diagnostic .test. Previous studies
have demonstrated that elevated serum concentrations of CA 19-9, a
tumor-associated antigen, have good sensitivity and .specificity for cholangiocarcirtoma
in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. However,
the value of this tumor marker for cholangiocarcirtoma unassociated with
primary sclerosing chotangitis is unclear. Thus, the aims of this study
were to determine the usefulness of a serum CA 19-9 determination in
the diagnosis of de novo. cholangiocarcinoma.
Methods: We measured serum CA 19-9 concentrations in patients with
cholangiocarcinoma (n=25),, nonmalignant liver disease (n=30), and benign
bile duct strictures (n=15),- serum CA 19-9 concentrations were
measured by a direct chemiluminometric technology.
Results: The sensitivity of a CA 19-9 value > 100U/ mi in diagnosing
cholangiocarcinoma was 53%. When compared with the nonmalignant Liver
disease and the benign bile duct stricture groups, the, true negative
rates were 76% and 92%, respectively. Patients witla.,unresectable cholangiocarcinoma
had significantly greater mean CA 19-9:concentrations compared
to patients with resectable cholangiocarcinoma.
Conclusions: These data suggest that the serum CA 19-.9 determination
is a useful addition to the available tests for thadiffetential diagnosis
of cholangiocarcinoma. |
