[Immunohistochemical findings in intrathoracic tumors. III. Detection of carcinoembryonic antigen in tumor tissue].

35 intrathoracic tumors were investigated for the presence of carcinoembryonic antigen. Additionally, activity of alkaline phosphatase and nonspecific esterase was determined in correlation to the presence of carcinoembryonic antigen. Carcinoembryonic antigen was detected in 60% of all tumors and in 64% of bronchial carcinomas. Most positive findings were observed in adenocarcinomas and epidermoid carcinomas. Mesenchymal tumors (neurinoma, neurosarcoma, neurofibroma, thymoma) showed negative findings. Correlations between the presence of carcinoembryonic antigen and nonspecific esterase respectively alkaline phosphatase were not observed.