Serum CA 19-9 levels in patients with endometriosis.

Choi, Young Min; Sohn, Yoo Kyung; Kim, Tai Jun; Ku, Seung Yup; Bai, Kwang Bum; Suh, Chang Suk; Kim, Seok Hyun; Kim, Jung Gu; Moon, Shin Yong; Lee, Jin Yong

Original Article

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2002;45(12):2231-2235.
Published online December 1, 2002.

Serum CA 19-9 levels in patients with endometriosis.

Young Min Choi, Yoo Kyung Sohn, Tai Jun Kim, Seung Yup Ku, Kwang Bum Bai, Chang Suk Suh, Seok Hyun Kim, Jung Gu Kim, Shin Yong Moon, Jin Yong Lee

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
²Institute of Reproductive Medicine and Population, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
³Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul Municipal Boramae Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To explore the efficacy of serum CA19-9 determination for the detection of endometriosis. DESIGNS: A retrospective analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preoperative serum CA19-9 and CA125 concentrations were measured in 53 patients with surgically and/or histologically diagnosed endometriosis. The extent of disease was staged according to the revised American Fertility Society (1985) classification system. RESULTS: Serum CA19-9 levels were elevated (>or=37 U/ml) in 13 (24.5%) out of 53 patients with endometriosis and serum CA125 levels were elevated (>or=35 U/ml) in 13 (24.5%). Either CA19-9 or CA125 levels in serum were elevated in 18 (34.0%) patients. In patients with stage III or IV endometriosis, elevated CA19-9 levels were noted in 11 (31.4%) of 35 patients, while CA125 in 12 (34.3%). Either CA19-9 or CA125 levels in serum were elevated in 15 (42.9%) of 35 patients with stage III or IV. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that serum CA19-9, in addition to CA125, measurement could help in identifying patients with moderate to severe endometriosis.

Key Words: endometriosis, CA19-9, CA125, tumor marker