Some patients say that tumor markers are really a metaphysics that makes people scratch their heads! Sometimes the tumor markers are high, not necessarily the tumor or tumor recurrence, but also may be caused by acute and chronic inflammation of human tissues and organs. Sometimes, when the tumor marker is high, it is really a tumor or the tumor has recurred.
Real case: tumor markers are elevated, a PET/CT test found lung cancer!
During the spread of the epidemic, Uncle Li (pseudonym) was "closed" at home for a long time, and the original good waist began to "grind". Because I wanted to minimize going out, I gritted my teeth and "carried" it for more than 20 days, but my back pain did not get any better, so I had to go to the local hospital for medical treatment.
Doctors found that he did not cough and cough sputum and hemoptysis, only back pain. So Uncle Li did a chest CT, and there was no placeholder. However, the laboratory tested the carcinoembryonic antigen CEA and found that it far exceeded the normal value (the normal value of CEA ≤5ug/l), and it reached 113.13 ug/l, and after two days of re-examination, there was still no decline.
(Figure: Carcinoembryonic antigen CEA measured twice, both of which reached more than 110 ug/l, far exceeding the normal value)
Abnormal CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN CEA does not necessarily represent a tumor, but in some tumors, such as colorectal, breast and lung cancer, carcinoembryonic antigens often behave abnormally. When there are persistent abnormalities in tumor markers and conventional imaging tests cannot determine the cause, there will be higher requirements for the selection of examination items. To confirm the condition, Kawa's doctors chose a full-body PET/CT test.
In the fasting state, intravenous injection of 18F-FDG and REST followed by PET/CT imaging, both hands up, the examination range from the head to the bilateral upper femur continuous CT and PET scans, lung cancer and multiple metastases. Although the discovery is advanced, it is fortunate that the treatment is appropriate and the disease is controlled.
How to identify if tumor markers are "fooling" you?
In the face of the sudden up and down tumor markers, how can ordinary people make rational judgments without being swayed by simple numbers ?
For cancer patients, tumor markers can be used as a monitoring channel for tumor treatment effects and disease progression, in addition to tumor markers, PET/CT examination should also be performed according to the requirements of doctors. For non-tumor patients, after finding that tumor markers are "exceeded", do not be too nervous, and can be judged according to the number and amplitude of "exceeding the standard".
If it is only slightly higher than the reference standard, you can not rush to do various imaging tests first, and then after a week, review the level of the marker again. If the results of the secondary examination return to normal or are lower than the first examination, they can be temporarily relieved; if they are rapidly elevated, imaging tests such as PET/CT are required. If the results of the first examination are bizarrely high, exceeding the reference standard by tens or even hundreds or thousands of times, the patient should be highly vigilant and pay attention, which means that the cancer cells in the patient's body divide rapidly, proliferate, very active, indicating that it is closely related to the occurrence of tumors, and patients should carry out PET/CT or related imaging examinations as soon as possible to achieve early diagnosis.
Write at the end
When elevated tumor markers are found, further imaging should be done in a timely manner, PET/CT is a comprehensive and accurate examination that can be used to help confirm whether there is a tumor, as well as whether the tumor has recurred and where it has recurred.
A single SCAN of PET/CT provides a systemic tumor, and this advantage is particularly important in the monitoring of tumor recurrence. If you have abnormal tumor markers and want to reassure your tumour about recurrence, you may wish to choose to have a PET/CT test.
Make an appointment with Guangzhou Taihe Cancer Hospital PET/CT now, enjoy a preferential price of 7,000 yuan, limited places, first come, first served! Welcome to share with friends in need!