Role of ca 19-9 as a tumor marker in diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma (A study of 46 cases)

Introduction: Ca19-9 is currently the single most useful tumor marker for diagnosis and prognosis of pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma. Aim: The aim is to elucidate the importance of tumor marker ca 19-9 as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in pancreatic carcinoma and cholangio-carcinoma. Material and Methods: The time period of the study was from september-2012 to september- 2014. The patients were investigated pre-operatively and post operatively for ca 19-9 levels in their serum with the use of ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbant assay) test. Results: Total 28 cases of pancreatic lesions were considered which included 24 cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, It was observed that when preoperative serum CA 19-9 level was less than 37 u/ml median survival was 28 months. However when CA 19-9 level was more than 200 u/ml, median survival was 6 months. Out of 18 cases studied in gallbladder tumors, 15 cases were of cholangiocarcinoma. Patients with pre-therapy serum CA 19-9 level was between 37 -200 u/ml median survival was 23.25 months. When CA 19-9 level was more than 200 u/ml, median survival was 10.25 months. Conclusion: Elevated level of ca 19-9 in pancreatic carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma are associated with higher age group, male sex, higher histological grade, higher TNM staging and metastasis. Post operative ca 19-9 value has definitive prognostic value to detect any metastasis or recurrence in pancreatic carcinoma and cholangio- carcinoma. Therefore it can be concluded that ca 19-9 is an important tumor marker for pancreatic carcninoma and cholangio-carcinoma.