Cholangiocarcinoma laboratory findings
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Suveenkrishna Pothuru, M.B,B.S. [2]
Overview
Laboratory tests for cholangiocarcinoma include carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, and liver function tests.
Laboratory Findings
Laboratory tests for cholangiocarcinoma include the following:
Carcinoembryonic antigen
- Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are often elevated, but not sensitive or specific enough to be used as a general screening tool.
- However, they may be useful in conjunction with imaging methods in supporting a suspected diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma.[1]
Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9)
- CA 19-9 is a protein released by cancers of the pancreas and bile ducts.
- Levels are elevated in pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma.
- CA 19-9 levels are not specific enough to be used as a screening test.
- However, it can be used as a tumor marker to determine response to chemotherapy.
Liver function tests
- Patients with cholangiocarcinoma have elevated concentration of following tests, which is usually suggestive of cholestatic pattern:
- Prothrombin time
- Albumin and total protein
- Bilirubin
- L-Lactate dehydrogenase
- Alkaline phosphatase
- Gamma glutamyl transferase
- Alpha-fetoprotein
- Transaminase levels (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) may initially be normal among patients with cholangiocarcinoma.
References
- ↑ Studies of the performance of serum markers for cholangiocarcinoma (such as carcinoembryonic antigen and CA19-9) in patients with and without primary sclerosing cholangitis include the following:
- Nehls O, Gregor M, Klump B (2004). "Serum and bile markers for cholangiocarcinoma". Semin Liver Dis. 24 (2): 139–54. PMID 15192787.
- Siqueira E, Schoen R, Silverman W, Martin J, Rabinovitz M, Weissfeld J, Abu-Elmaagd K, Madariaga J, Slivka A, Martini J (2002). "Detecting cholangiocarcinoma in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis". Gastrointest Endosc. 56 (1): 40–7. PMID 12085033.
- Levy C, Lymp J, Angulo P, Gores G, Larusso N, Lindor K (2005). "The value of serum CA 19-9 in predicting cholangiocarcinomas in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis". Dig Dis Sci. 50 (9): 1734–40. PMID 16133981.
- Patel A, Harnois D, Klee G, LaRusso N, Gores G (2000). "The utility of CA 19-9 in the diagnoses of cholangiocarcinoma in patients without primary sclerosing cholangitis". Am J Gastroenterol. 95 (1): 204–7. PMID 10638584.