Carcinoembryonic antigen in intraepithelial neoplasia of the uterine cervix.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was elevated (greater than 2.5 ng. per milliliter) in 29 of 100 patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). CEA concentration was related to the amount of intraepithelial neoplasia and to the presence of glandular extension. Lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of tumor cells was unrelated to CEA levels. CEA values returned to normal within 8 weeks following surgery in 77 per cent of patients. A persistently elevated (greater than 5.0 ng. milliter) plasma CEA value following conization was associated with residual CIN in the cervix. These results suggest that sequential CEA determinations may be of value in the follow-up of those cervical cancer patients who initially have high plasma antigen levels.