[Significance of laboratory chemical parameters for the detection of metastases in breast cancer].

The diagnostic value of 7 laboratory parameters for the detection of metastases was investigated in 136 patients with verified breast carcinoma after mastectomy. The post-operative interval was 6 to 80 months (means = 27.5). 61 patients had multiple metastases as determined by physical examination, X-rays, computertomography, sonographic and scan procedures, while the other 75 patients had no evidence of metastases. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alkaline phosphatase (AP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) proved to be reliable parameters for the presence of metastases; the combination of these 3 parameters had a sensitivity of 73.0% and a specificity of 94.7% in the detection of metastases. The additional determination of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GT), blood sedimentation rate (BSR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum iron (Fe) increased the sensitivity of metastases detection to 83.8%, but the specificity decreased to 46.2%.