Carcinoembryonic antigen in intestinal lavage fluids and the tissue of colorectal tumors

: Determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was carried out in 48 intestinal washing fluids (21 from healthy subjects, 15 from patients with polyps and 12 from patients with colorectal carcinoma). The histologic study of polyps and the histologic and immunohistochemical studies of tumors were realized. In the polyps's group, the mean of ACE is significantly higher than that of the volunteers's group, but 7 subjects have a CEA level below the mean and 8 subjects have a CEA level twice this mean. Furthermore, the CEA level seemed to be independent of histologic grade of polyps. The mean of CEA levels in the subjects with colorectal carcinoma is significantly higher than that of volunteers, but 4 of 12 patients have a CEA level below the mean of healthy subjects. The CEA levels are very variable for an identical stage of tumor's differentiation and is independent of Dukes stage (B-C or D). CEA determination in intestinal washing fluids allows neither the detection nor the appreciation of intestinal carcinoma's extend.