[Relevance of serum aldolase for the detection of liver metastases of bronchial cancer--comparative enzymatic and endoscopy-autopsy studies].

In 100 patients with histologically confirmed bronchogenic carcinoma, the reliability of serum aldolase determination as screening test for metastases in the liver has been investigated. Demonstration respectively exclusion of liver metastases was done by laparoscopy or occasionally by autopsy. In contrast to previous results, with the presently used, more reliable technique, the results were less satisfactory. True positive aldolase values as indicators of presence of liver metastases were observed in 72,7 percent of patients carrying those. In cases of chronic liver damage of other etiology, in general no elevated aldolase values were observed. The aldolase activity correlated with the amount of tumor tissue in the liver. An improvement of the enzymatic screening might be expected from additional determination of enzymes indicating cholostasis or from determination of liver-specific aldolase isoenzyme.