Which statement about carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as a tumor marker is most accurate?

• A It is sufficiently specific to be recommended as a screening test for colonic carcinoma in asymptomatic adults
• B It is the marker of choice for distinguishing pancreatic carcinoma from chronic pancreatitis
• C It is normally produced only by fetal gastrointestinal tissue and is undetectable in any benign condition
• D Elevated serum levels correlate well with tumor burden and are useful in monitoring recurrence of colorectal carcinoma ✓

Explanation

CEA is valuable for monitoring residual disease, recurrence, and therapy response in colorectal carcinoma, where serial levels correlate with tumor burden. It is raised in heavy smokers and in benign conditions such as pancreatitis, cirrhosis, and inflammatory bowel disease, so it is neither sensitive nor specific enough for population screening, killing option A. It also cannot reliably separate pancreatic malignancy from chronic pancreatitis, ruling out B.

Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.