CEA, Carcinoembryonic Antigen, Pancreatic Cyst Fluid

Test Code

91930

CPT Codes
82378

Preferred Specimen

1 mL pancreatic cyst fluid submitted in a plastic, leak-proof container

Minimum Volume

0.3 mL

Transport Temperature

Frozen

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 6 hours
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Received room temperature • Gross hemolysis • Turbid sample

Methodology
Immunochemiluminometric Assay (ICMA)

FDA Status
This test was developed and its analytical performance characteristics have been determined by Pan Laboratories, Irvine, CA. This assay has been validated pursuant to the CLIA regulations. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Setup Schedule

Set up: Tues, Fri a.m.; Report available: 2-5 days

Reference Range

0-5.0 ng/mL

Clinical Significance

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a 180 kD intracellular adhesion molecule expressed in high concentrations in the fetus but normally not found in adult serum because the synthesis of this protein ceases after birth. However, it reappears in a high concentration in the sera of patients with colorectal (57%), gastric(41%), hepatocellular(45%), pancreatic(59%) and biliary(59%) carcinoma. Pancreatic cysts are increasingly recognized as a dilemma in clinical practice because of their uncertain risk of malignancy. Various tumor markers (i.e. CA 19-9, amylase) have been evaluated to distinguish nonmucinous, nonmalignant pancreatic cysts from mucinous cysts, which have a high likelihood of malignancy. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has been found to be the most reliable tumor marker for identifying those pancreatic cysts that are likely mucinous. In cyst aspirates, CEA concentrations > or =200 ng/mL are highly suspicious for mucinous cysts. When the concentration of CEA in cyst fluid is higher, there is a greater chance that the mucinous cyst is malignant. However, CEA testing does not reliably distinguish between benign, premalignant, or malignant mucinous cysts. CEA test results should be therefore correlated with the results of imaging studies, cytology, other cyst fluid tumor markers (i.e, amylase, lipase, CA 15-3, CA 72-4 and CA 19-9), and clinical findings for diagnosis.

Performing Laboratory
Pan Laboratories, LLC
15375 Barranca Pkw, E101
Irvine, CA 92618

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.