CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) Pretreatment Lab Value
Description
CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) Pretreatment Lab Value records 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 InterpretationNotes
**Note 1:** **Physician Statement** * Physician statement of CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) Pretreatment Lab Value 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 3819: CEA Pretreatment InterpretationCode | Description |
---|---|
0.0 | 0.0 nanograms/milliliter (ng/ml) exactly |
0.1-9999.9 | 0.1-9999.9 ng/ml (Exact value to nearest tenth in ng/ml) |
XXXX.1 | 10,000 ng/ml or greater |
XXXX.7 | Test ordered, results not in chart |
XXXX.8 | Not applicable: Information not collected for this case (If this information is required by your standard setter, use of code XXXX.8 may result in an edit error.) |
XXXX.9 | Not documented in medical record CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) Pretreatment Lab Value not assessed or unknown if assessed |