Carcinoembryonic antigen in normal, preneoplastic and neoplastic gallbladder epithelium.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was found in normal epithelium, premalignant lesions, and all histologic types of carcinomas of the gallbladder. Immunocytochemical staining for CEA was limited to the apical surface of normal epithelium. In premalignant lesions and in carcinomas, the staining was more extensive, occurring within the cytoplasm and gland secretions. These findings show that the presence and the pattern of distribution of CEA in normal and neoplastic gallbladder epithelium closely resemble that in other gastrointestinal epithelia.