CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) Pretreatment Interpretation
Description
CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) Pretreatment Interpretation refers to the interpretation of the CEA value prior to treatment. CEA is a nonspecific tumor marker that has prognostic significance for colon and rectum cancer.
CEA is
**1).** A protein molecule found in many different cells of the body but associated with certain tumors and with the developing fetus.
**2).** CEA is used as a tumor marker especially for gastrointestinal cancers, as colorectal cancer is the most frequent cause for an increased/elevated CEA.
**3).** CEA is also elevated by biliary obstruction, alcoholic hepatitis, and heavy smoking.
**4).** CEA level is most frequently tested on blood serum, but it may be tested in body fluids and/or biopsy tissue.
**5).** An abnormally high CEA level prior to tumor resection is expected to fall following successful removal of the cancer.
**6).** An increasing value indicates possible recurrence.
There are 2 related data items that record information on CEA for Colon and Rectum.
* 3820: CEA Pretreatment Lab Value
* 3819: CEA Pretreatment Interpretation
Rationale
CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) is a Registry Data Collection Variable for AJCC 8. CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) Pretreatment Interpretation was previously collected as Colon and Rectum, CS SSF #1.
Additional Info
**Source documents:** clinical laboratory report, sometimes pathology or cytology report; H&P, operative report; consultant report; discharge summary
**Other names include** Carcinoembryonic antigen
**Reference ranges**
* Nonsmoker: < 2.5 ng/ml (SI: < 2.5 mg/L) SI Conversion: 1 mg/L = 1 ng/ml.
* Smoker: < 5 ng/ml (SI: < 5 mg/L) SI Conversion: 1 mg/mL = 1 ng/L
Notes
**Note 1:** **Physician Statement**
* Physician statement of CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) Interpretation can be used to code this data item when no other information is available.
**Note 2:** **Pretreatment results only**
* Record the interpretation of the highest CEA test result documented in the medical record **prior to treatment or a polypectomy**.
**Note 3:** **Related data item**.
* The same laboratory test should be used to record information in the related data item 3820: CEA Lab Value
Coding Guidelines
**1)** Record the clinician’s interpretation of the highest value **prior to treatment**, based on the reference range used by the lab in the Interpretation data item.
* If the physician's statement is not available, use the **Reference Ranges** included in **Additional Information** for this data item to determine the interpretation
**2)** **Code 3** when a CEA value was documented in the record, but there is no statement that the CEA is positive/elevated, negative/normal, and the normal range (from which you can determine interpretation), is not documented.
Default
8
Metadata
SSDI
| Code |
Description |
| 0 |
CEA negative/normal; within normal limits |
| 1 |
CEA positive/elevated |
| 2 |
Borderline |
| 3 |
Undetermined if positive or negative (normal values not available)
AND no MD interpretation |
| 7 |
Test ordered, results not in chart |
| 8 |
Not applicable: Information not collected for this case
(If this data item is required by your standard setter, use of code 8 will result in an edit error.) |
| 9 |
Not documented in medical record
CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) Pretreatment Interpretation not assessed or unknown if assessed |
