Diagnostic value of tumoral markers in serous effusions: carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha1-acidglycoprotein, alpha-fetoprotein, phosphohexose isomerase, and beta 2-microglobulin.

In order to discriminate between benign and malignant effusions, the value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha 1-acidglycoprotein (AGP), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), phosphohexose isomerase (PHI), and beta 2-microglobulin (B2M) has been estimated in serous effusions in a group of 106 patients, 30 with a malignant and 76 with a benign effusion. Mean CEA and AGP levels in malignant effusions were significantly higher than in benign effusions; no significant differences of mean PHI, AFP and B2M levels of benign and malignant effusions were found. CEA level estimations were useful for confirming malignancy in 27% of malignant effusions but in only 7.5% of all effusions, and AGP and PHI for excluding it in 37.5 and 36.0% of all effusions, respectively. With the combination of CEA with AGP or PHI, a correct diagnosis was achieved in only 45 and 44% of all effusions, respectively. The combination of AFP or B2M with CEA, AGP or PHI did not improve the discriminative value for differentiating malignant and benign effusions.