CA 19.9

• < 37 U/ml

• CA19-9 represents the most important and basic carbohydrate tumour marker. Usually very little of CA 19.9 is detectable in the blood of normal individuals. Recently reports indicates that the serum CA19- 9 level is frequently elevated in the serum of subjects with various gastrointestinal malignancies, such as pancreatic, colorectal, gastric and hepatic carcinomas.
• Together with CEA (Carcinoembryogenic antigen), elevated-CA19-9 is suggestive of gallbladder neoplasm in the setting of inflammatory gallbladder disease. This tumour-associated antigen may also be elevated in some non-malignant conditions.
• It has been shown that a persistent elevation in serum CA 19.9 value following treatment may be indicative of occult metastatic and/or residual disease. A persistently rising serum CA 19-9 value may be associated with progressive malignant disease and poor therapeutic response. 

CA19-9 is used to

• Diagnose pancreatic cancer (in conjunction with other diagnostic modalities like CT, USG.
• Correlate Levels with pancreatic cancer staging. 
• In serological diagnosis of Pancreatic cancer in the non-jaundiced patients which can be difficult to diagnose, even with the aid of modern scanning techniques. 
• As an aid in serological diagnosis of cystic fibrosis patients.
• May indicate development of cholangiocarcinoma in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

• When there is s/s that may indicate Pancreatic Cancer (Abdominal and /or back pain, Nausea, loss of appetite, Unexplained weight loss, Jaundice in early stages . Chronic pain, nausea, vomiting, malabsorption in later stages.)

• Pancreatic cancer
• Excretory ductal pancreatic cancer ( highest levels)
• Hepato biliary cancer
• Colon cancer
• Cholangiocarcinoma
• Pancreatitis
• Cystic fibrosis