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Chung, Choi, Park, Hwang, Moon, Kim, Chang, Kim, Kim, and Kim: Diagnostic Utility of Pleural Fluid CEA and CYFRA 21-1 for Malignant Pleural Effusions
Original Article

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2004; 57(1): 32-36.

Published online: 31 July 2004

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2004.57.1.32

Diagnostic Utility of Pleural Fluid CEA and CYFRA 21-1 for Malignant Pleural Effusions

Jae Ho Chung, M.D.1, Jeong Eun Choi, M.D.1, Moo Suk Park, M.D.2, Sang Yon Hwang, M.D.2, Jin Wook Moon, M.D.2, Young Sam Kim, M.D.2, 3, Joon Chang, M.D.2, 3, Joo Hang Kim, M.D.2, 3, 4, Sung Kyu Kim, M.D.2, 3, Se Kyu Kim, M.D.2, 3, 4, 5

1Department of Internal Medicine, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Myungji Hospital, Koyang, Korea.

2Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

3The Institute of Chest Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

4Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

5Cancer Metastasis Research Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Se Kyu Kim, M.D. Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-Dong, Seodaemun-Ku, Seoul 120-752, South Korea. Phone: 82-2-361-5429, Fax: 82-2-393-6884, sekyukim@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr

Received 22 December 2003       Accepted 27 May 2004

Copyright©2004. The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases. All rights reserved.

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the pleural fluid carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin fragment 19 (CYFRA 21-1) tumor markers as complementary tools for the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions.

Patients And Methods

The levels of pleural and serum CEA and CYFRA 21-1 were prospectively assayed in 222 patients with pleural effusions (150 benign effusions, 57 bronchogenic carcinomas and 15 metastatic carcinomas).

Results

The levels of pleural fluid CEA and CYFRA 21-1 in the malignant effusions were significantly higher than those in the benign effusions. With a specificity of 95%, the cut off values for the CEA and CYFRA 21-1 in pleural effusions were 5 and 89 ng/ml, respectively. The diagnostic sensitivities of the pleural fluid CEA and CYFRA 21-1 in malignant effusions were 72 and 54%, respectively, whereas using a combination of the two, the sensitivity increased to 87% (p<0.05).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that a combination of the pleural fluid CEA and CYFRA 21-1 in pleural effusions can be useful in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions.

Keywords: CEA, CYFRA 21-1, Malignant pleural effusions

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