[Relevance of CEA in benign breast disease (author's transl)].

Serum CEA-concentrations were measured in patients with various benign breast tumors; in addition, CEA levels were determined in the fluid of mammary cysts present. Patients with proliferating mastopathia with and without atypia had CEA values exceeding 25 ng/ml in the cystic fluid (= 46). No significant correlation existed between serum and cystic fluid concentrations. CEA determination allows for a differentiation between simple and proliferating mastopathias.