What is carcinoembryonic antigen test?
The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test measures the level of CEA in the blood. CEA is a protein normally found in the tissue of a developing baby in the womb. The blood level of this protein disappears or becomes very low after birth. In adults, an abnormal level of CEA may be a sign of cancer.
What is a carcinoembryonic antigen blood test for?
This test measures the amount of CEA in the blood, and sometimes in other body fluids. CEA is a type of tumor marker. Tumor markers are substances made by cancer cells or by normal cells in response to cancer in the body. A high level of CEA can be a sign of certain types of cancers.
What is the normal range for CEA blood test?
Normal Results The normal range is 0 to 2.5 ng/mL (0 to 2.5 µg/L). In smokers, slightly higher values may be considered normal (0 to 5 ng/mL, or 0 to 5 µg/L).
Does elevated CEA always mean cancer?
A higher-than-normal CEA level that increases over time might signal that your cancer has grown or has come back after treatment. But high levels of CEA do not always mean you have cancer. These other conditions can also increase levels: Breast cysts.
What are CEA levels?
What are normal CEA levels? A normal level of CEA is less than or equal to 3 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Most healthy people have levels below this amount. CEA levels will generally return to normal between one and four months after the cancer has been successfully removed.
What causes CEA levels to rise?
The most frequent cancer which causes an increased CEA is cancer of the colon and rectum. Benign conditions which can elevate CEA include smoking, infections, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and some benign tumors in the same organs in which an elevated CEA level indicates cancer.
What is CEA in a lab report?
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a protein that is primarily associated with certain types of cancer. The most common way to measure CEA is through a blood test, although other bodily fluids may be tested as well.
What is a CEA blood test called?
A carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test is a blood test used to help diagnose and manage certain types of cancers. The CEA test is used especially for cancers of the large intestine and rectum. Your doctor can also use the test results to help determine if a cancer treatment is working.
What can raise CEA levels?
Benign conditions which can elevate CEA include smoking, infections, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and some benign tumors in the same organs in which an elevated CEA indicates cancer.
What does a CEA blood test detect?