Cancer Antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) details
What Cancer Antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) shows
CA 19-9 is a tumor marker used mainly to monitor treatment response and detect recurrence in pancreatic cancer, and sometimes other gastrointestinal cancers like bile duct or colorectal cancer. It isn't used as a general screening test for cancer in people without symptoms, since it lacks the sensitivity and specificity for that purpose, and can also be elevated by non-cancerous conditions like bile duct blockage, pancreatitis, or liver disease. Some people also lack the genetic marker needed to produce CA 19-9 at all, meaning their CA 19-9 can stay falsely low even with active cancer. It's most useful as a tool for tracking a known, already-diagnosed cancer over time.
Tests that include Cancer Antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9)
CA 19-9 (Cancer Antigen 19-9) is a protein that may be elevated in the blood of individuals with gastrointestinal cancers, particularly pancreatic cancer. It is mainly used to monitor treatment response and disease progression, but it is not specific enough for early cancer detection, as levels can also rise in non-cancerous conditions like pancreatitis or liver disease.
- Cancer Antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) A tumor marker used mainly to monitor pancreatic cancer, and sometimes other gastrointestinal cancers, rather than to screen for them.
CA 19-9 (Cancer Antigen 19-9) is a protein that may be elevated in the blood of individuals with gastrointestinal cancers, particularly pancreatic cancer. It is mainly used to monitor treatment response and disease progression, but it is not specific enough for early cancer detection, as levels can also rise in non-cancerous conditions like pancreatitis or liver disease.
- Cancer Antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) A tumor marker used mainly to monitor pancreatic cancer, and sometimes other gastrointestinal cancers, rather than to screen for them.
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