The diagnostic value of measurement of 4 tumor markersin the patients with cancer and tuberculous pleural effusion

Objective:To evaluate carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),carbobydrate antigen(CA199、CA125 and CA153) in differential diagnosis of cancer and tuberctulous pleural effusion.Methods:The serum and pleural fluid levels of 4 tmnor markers in 64 patients with cancerous effusion,44 patients with tuberculous effusion and 20 normal subjects were measured using immunoradiometric assay.Results:The serum and pleural fluid levels of CEA,CA199,CA125 and CA153 in the patients with cancerous effusion were significantly higher than in those with tuberculous effusion with a ratio1.Assessing CEA,CA199,CA125,CA153 could significantly increase the sensitivity and specificity.The sensitivity of combined assay with serum CEA+CA199 in diagnosing malignant pleural effusion was 92.2%,and the specificity was 90.9%.Conclusion:Tumor markers of CEA,CA199,CA125 and CA153 have high clinical values in differential diagnosis of cancerous and tuberculous pleural effusion.The combined assay with CEA+CA199 should be recommended.