Carcinoembryonic antigen in cerebrospinal fluid--its diagnostic value in neoplasms of the central nervous system.

Abstract

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma was measured with commercially available radioimmunoassays from 19 patients with neoplastic conditions of the central nervous system (CNS); 5 metastatic brain tumors, 4 glial tumors, 4 meningiomas, 2 pituitary adenomas, 2 acoustic neurinomas, 1 malignant lymphoma and 1 choriocarcinoma. 27 patients with various non-neoplastic conditions served as control. In the control group, CSF CEA value was 0.8±0.3 ng/ml (mean ± s. d.). In metastatic brain tumors, two cases showed an elevation of CSF CEA and another case showed borderline elevation of CSF CEA. In metastatic brain tumors, elevation of CSF CEA seemed to be well established and of great diagnostic value provided the primary malignancy is capable of producing CEA. In glial tumors, CSF CEA was elevated in only 1 case, in which elevation of CSF CEA preceded recurrence of the tumor. In glial tumor, measurement of CSF CEA seemed to be of value in evaluation of post-treatment patients, however, this point has yet to be established. No significant elevation of CSF CEA was noted in any other neoplastic condition. Significance of CSF CEA in diagnosis and management of CNS neoplasms is discussed.