Presence of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the normal and inflamed human parotid gland. An immunohistochemical study of 31 cases.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was analysed in the human parotid gland. Specimens of 31 normal and inflamed parotid glands were studied by the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. The presence of CEA could be demonstrated at the border of the acinar cells and the intercalated duct cells as well as in the undifferentiated duct cells as observed in chronic obstructive parotitis. These observations may explain the presence of CEA in normal human saliva and may provide a new basis for histogenetic interpretation of pathological lesions of the parotid gland, especially of the tumors of the salivary gland tissue.