The carcinoembryonic antigen test in urologic cancer.

The diagnostic value of the CEA test was evaluated in 2,029 blood and urine samples from 308 patients with urologic cancer, 13 with nonurologic cancer, 20 urologic patients with nonmalignant disease, and in 30 controls. The blood CEA test was positive in 50% of the patients with active urologic cancer and in 35% of those with inactive cancer. The urine CEA test was elevated only in patients with active bladder cancer, but most of these had concurrently infected urines. At the present time, the CEA test does not reflect the accuracy necessary for an acceptable diagnostic test for the detection of urologic cancer.