Elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) should be actively sought after to identify the cause of the disease, which should be treated with medication or surgery after the cause is clarified.
CEA is one of the commonly used tumor markers, with a normal value of <5 ng/ml. Significantly elevated CEA is commonly found in gastrointestinal tumors such as gastric and colorectal cancers, lung cancers, breast cancers and other malignant tumors. Benign diseases such as chronic gastroenteritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, cholangitis and pancreatitis can also cause CEA elevation.
When CEA is elevated to a significant degree, pathological biopsy should be performed. If malignant tumors are diagnosed, treatment should be started immediately according to the stage of the disease. It can be treated by surgical resection of the lesion and lymph node dissection, and then supplemented with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and when extensive metastasis of the tumor occurs, it can be slowed down by systemic comprehensive treatment.
If the disease is benign, antibiotics such as cefdinir and cefixime can be used, and if there are bile duct stones, ERCP or choledochotomy can be used to remove the stones. Generally, after active treatment, CEA values can gradually return to normal.
If carcinoembryonic antigen is elevated, one should consult a doctor immediately, complete relevant examinations such as gastroenteroscopy and abdominal ultrasound to find out the cause of the disease, and choose the treatment according to the cause of the disease. Self-medication is forbidden.