Carcinoembryonic antigen in endometrial adenocarcinoma

73 patients suffering from endometrial adenocarcinoma were examined for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) by sandwich radioimmunoassay before during, and after surgical treatment and radiotherapy. In only 17% of all cases the CEA levels were increased. Patients who had undergone surgery followed by 60Co irradiation revealed a distinct decrease of the CEA levels in good correlation to the therapeutic result. CEA determination is recommended for course control of radiotherapy and for the detection of recurrencies. Because of 34% falsely negative CEA values, only pathological CEA levels should be considered relevant. (author)