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Laboratory Tests and Interpretation of Results

Normal Range:

  • Nonsmokers: 0 to 2.5 ng/ml (0 to 2.5 μg/L [CF: 1; SMI: 0.1 μg/L])
  • Smokers: 0 to 5 ng/ml (0 to 5 μg/L [CF: 1; SMI: 0.1 μg/L])
Elevated in:

  • Colorectal carcinomas,* pancreatic carcinomas, and metastatic disease (usually produce higher elevations: >20 ng/ml)
  • Carcinomas of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, liver, breast, ovary, lung, and thyroid (usually produce lesser elevations)
  • Benign conditions (smoking, inflammatory bowel disease, hypothyroidism, cirrhosis, pancreatitis, infections) (usually produce levels <10 ng/ml)

* To detect colorectal cancer, the sensitivity of CEA ranges from 68% for a threshold of 10 mcg/L to 82% for a threshold of 2.5 mcg/L, and the specificity ranges from 97% for a threshold of 10 mcg/L to 80% for a threshold of 2.6 mcg/L.