[Diagnostic significance of carcinoembryonic antigen measurement in bronchial lavage fluids in bronchial carcinoma].

Using monoclonal antibody against CEA, we have measured carcino-embryonic antigen in bronchial lavage fluids and sera in 36 pts with bronchial carcinoma. Simultaneously, 28 pts and 36 pts were performed with bronchial brush biopsy and cytological examination respectively. There were 25 cases with other pulmonary diseases such as TB and pneumonia as control. CEA levels of lavage fluids, sera in malignant group and control were 42.2 +/- 44.9; 12.8 +/- 23.6; and 8 +/- 11.6; 1.6 +/- 2.4 (ng/ml) respectively. CEA lavage was adjusted with albumin concentration in each case. The results showed: (1) 83.3% of malignant patients were greater than 10 ng/ml in lavage fluids and 16% in non-malignant group. Positive rate was higher than controls (P less than 0.01). (2) CEA level of lavage fluids was higher than that of sera in malignancy (P less than 0.01). (3) There were 16 patients with negative bronchial brush biopsy in malignant group but they were 93.7% positive for CEA measurement of lavage fluids. It is reasonable to consider that CEA measurement in bronchial lavage fluid is an important technique for the supplementary of bronchogenic carcinoma.