Beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin and carcino-embryonic antigen in the management of ovarian carcinoma.

Measurements of HCG and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) were made in 26 patients with ovarian cancer to evaluate these substances as tumour markers; 13-4 per cent of 194 CEA estimations and 14-6 per cent of 144 HCG estimations were abnormal. CEA values were abnormal in 9 out of 26 patients and HCG values in 13 out of 26 patients. The implications of these findings particularly the presence of HCG are discussed.