Carcinoembryonic antigen 13ug/L is slightly above normal, malignancy is unlikely, smoking, inflammation and other factors can be present, and needs to be combined with other tests.
Carcinoembryonic antigen is a polysaccharide-rich protein complex found primarily in the fetal pancreas, digestive ducts, and liver during the embryonic period, with exceptionally low levels in tissues after birth. It is initially found in adult colon cancer tissue, and the value can be abnormally high in the presence of malignancy.
The normal value is serum <5ug/L. Mild elevations of carcinoembryonic antigen can be seen in pregnancy, smokers, diabetes, colon polyps, colitis, cirrhosis and other conditions, and its value is usually less than 20μg/l, which is much lower than that of malignant tumors.
If the value is more than 20μg/l, we should be alert to the occurrence of malignant tumors. For example, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, etc., its value rises with the development of the disease. It is also sometimes used to identify primary liver cancer and metastatic liver cancer. In primary liver cancer, the value is usually not elevated, while in metastatic liver cancer, it has a very high positivity rate, and the absolute value increases significantly.
Therefore, if you find carcinoembryonic antigen is elevated, please go to the hospital immediately.