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Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Tumour Markers in the Differential Diagnosis of Patients With Isolated Involuntary Weight Loss

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In Vivo. 2021 Nov-Dec;35(6):3361-3367. doi: 10.21873/invivo.12634.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIM: Paraneoplastic syndrome symptoms include isolated involuntary weight loss (IIWL). The differential diagnosis of cancer from other diseases may require a significant number of tests. Tumour markers (TMs) can be used for the diagnosis and stratification of patients according to cancer risk.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 606 patients (48% females) seen at the rapid diagnostic unit for IIWL. We determined the levels of TMs carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, soluble fragments of cytokeratin 19, carbohydrate antigen 15-3, carbohydrate antigen 125, neuron specific enolase, alpha-fetoprotein, prostatic specific antigen using the multiparametric analyser COBAS 601. Two cut-off points were established, the upper reference limit described by the manufacturer and a high cut-off point suggested by Molina et al., to stratif y patients according to cancer risk.

RESULTS: Patients were classified according to TM levels as follows: I) all TMs below the upper reference limit; II) highest number of TMs between the two cut-offs; III) at least one TM above the higher cut-off. The odds ratio for malignancy was 4.3 for group II and 248 for group III. These results indicate that when at least one TM is above the higher cut-off, neoplasia is highly probable.

CONCLUSION: TM determination allowed to establish cancer risk in patients with IIWL.

PMID:34697170 | DOI:10.21873/invivo.12634

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