Expression of carcinoembryonic antigen in ulcerative colitis, tubular adenomas and hyperplastic polyps: correlations with the degree of dysplasia.

Sections of tubular adenomas (n = 40), ulcertive colitis (n = 97) and hyperplastic polyps (n = 31) were examined by immunoperoxidase staining to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in order to assess its potential diagnostic value in predicting malignant potential of these lesions. We compared the degree of epithelial abnormality in these mucosal specimens with the extent of immunoperoxidase staining for CEA. We found that CEA staining correlated with the degree of epithelial alteration in tubular adenoma and ulcerative colitis groups. Scattered weakly positive staining was found in eight of 31 hyperplastic polyps. High tissue expression of CEA, when combined with histologic dysplasia, may prove to be an additional factor in the evaluation of malignant potential in ulcerative colitis specimens and adenomas.