Egyptian Journal of Chest Disease and Tuberculosis (Apr 2015)

Diagnostic value of cyfra 21-1 and carcinoembryonic antigen in differentiation between benign and malignant pleural effusion

  • Waffa S. El-Shimy,
  • Basem I. El-Shafey,
  • Hesham A. El-Sorougy,
  • Eman Ali Abd El-Monem

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejcdt.2015.02.001
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 64, no. 2
pp. 411 – 417

Abstract

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Background: Tumor markers were used in malignant pleural effusion with negative cytology. Aim of the work: The aim was to assess the value of serum and pleural levels of cyfra 21-1 (fragment of cytokeratin 19) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion. Patients and methods: This study was conducted on 48 patients divided into group I (benign effusion) and group II (malignant effusion). Chest X-ray P.A view, pleural fluid analysis and measurement of serum and pleural levels of CEA and cyfra 21-1 were done. Results: Serum and pleural levels of cyfra 21-1 and CEA were significantly increased in the malignant group and compared to other groups. Sensitivities of cyfra 21-1 and CEA in serum were 90.4 and 90.5 and in pleural fluid were 94.7 and 92.6, the specificities of cyfra 21-1 and CEA in serum were 86.9 and 83.5 and in pleural fluid were 89.3 and 85.8 but sensitivity of both cyfra 21-1 and CEA in serum and pleural fluid was 100 and specificities in serum and pleural fluid were 92.86 and 96.43. Conclusion: Measurement of cyfra 21-1 and CEA in serum and pleural fluid is helpful in differentiation between benign and malignant pleural effusions.

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