Tim,

Thanks for the Q.

CEA=CarcinoEmbryonic Antigen.This is a product of cancer cells
especially the Colorectal cancer.Cancer cells are hyperactive cells
that are capable of generating excessive amounts of known and
unknown proteins/carbohydrates or the combinations.These products
are called Tumour Markers in general because they indicate tumour
growth and activity.
Therefore CEA indicate Colorectal tumour growth and activity.It is
usually measeured before the treatment(surgery) and after the
treatment.If the level of CEA is high before the treatment and came
down to normal level after the treatment,then we can safely assume
that the treatment is sucessful and the tumour has been
eradicated.In this way,we say the CEA is used to prognosticate the
colorectal cancer management.
Tumour Markers in general are not good to be used as a diagnostic
tool because of their lack of specificity but occasionally they can
help in diagnosis eg.colorectal cancer px was well after treatment
for a longtime and suddenly feel unwell.As a prelude we can do CEA
level and if it is high then we can procede to do colonoscopy to
investigate further.
Hope the above info is of value

--- In AskDrHamid@yahoogroups.com, "Fatimah Abdul Rahim"
<farnek@p...> wrote:
> Mr Mid
>
> What is Lab test CEA stands for.
> This was carried out to my pt who had colorectal CA and had his
surgery.
> What is the significant of this test
> Tq
> tim
>