Use of serum CA 125 measurement in posttreatment surveillance of early-stage endometrial carcinoma.

Serum CA 125 levels were normal preoperatively in 123 of 125 (98.4%) patients with clinical and surgical stage I or II endometrial adenocarcinoma, and remained so in all patients who remained without evidence of either isolated vaginal recurrence or postoperative radiation enteritis. Recurrent disease developed in 13 patients. All of those who had pelvic (1), abdominal (4), or pulmonary (2) metastases had elevated serum CA 125 levels. None of the six patients with isolated vaginal recurrences had elevated CA 125 levels. Four patients had small bowel obstruction as a result of postoperative pelvic radiation, and all had elevated CA 125 levels during these episodes, although no evidence of recurrent disease was found during exploratory laparotomy for intestinal bypass. Serum CA 125 levels may have a role in the posttreatment surveillance of patients with early-stage endometrial carcinoma, but may be falsely elevated in the presence of severe radiation injury and at a normal level in the presence of isolated vaginal metastases.