Diagnostic efficacy of broncho-alveolar lavage carcino-embronic antigen in carcinoma of lung

CONTEXT: Biomarkers can be used for screening lung cancer and the clinician can decide for further invasive workup for diagnosis. AIMS: To know the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in Broncho Alveolar Lavage Fluid (BALF) and serum of bronchogenic carcinoma. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Case-Control study was conducted in the Medical College Hospital during a period of 2 years. METHODS AND MATERIAL: We randomly selected 50 cases and 50 controls subjects. Cases were the patients with proven malignancy by biopsy or cytology, and controls were other non-malignant pulmonary diseases. All patients’ CEA of Broncho Alveolar Lavage Fluid and serum was done. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The mean and receiver operating curve were done for CEA of serum and BAL fluid, and based on the cut-off values, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. RESULTS: Mean value of CEA in both BALF and serum in non-smoker patients of the malignant lesion was significantly higher than the non-malignant lesion. Mean value of CEA in both BALF and serum in smoker patients of the malignant lesion was higher than the benign lesion, but statistically not significant. The cut-off value for Serum CEA is 1μg/l, whereas for BALF CEA is 2μg/l. Sensitivity, specificity of CEA of Serum and BALF combined were 92% and 62% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Determination of CEA in the BALF and serum may be helpful as a screening tool for further workup for malignancy.