If you need to know which are the CEA reference ranges or you require more information about CEA in a blood test, you can visit normal CEA in a blood test.
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) can be higher than the normal range in a blood test for the following reasons:
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is not specific for any disease and it should not be used for cancer diagnosis. It is most useful as a marker to determine the effectiveness of the treatment for a gastrointestinal cancer (colon, rectum, gastric, etc.).
If it returns to normal range after the tumor is properly treated or surgically removed (4-6 weeks) is a sign of good prognosis. If it does not return to normal range it is suggestive of metastasis (to the liver) or incomplete resection.
With a mild CEA increase, it is interesting to know if the patient is a smoker or not because tobacco increases the CEA level in the blood. In heavy smokers, values up to 10 ng/ml may be considered in the normal range.
In addition, some studies done in general population suggest that 5% of healthy people have a mild CEA increase in the blood without a concrete cause.
If you are not suffering any disease and the others parameters of the blood test are in the normal range it is not usually a matter to concern. You can talk to your doctor about it.
A moderate CEA increase requires a visit to your doctor to study the possible causes.
A large number of malignant tumors can increase the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level in the blood.
There are also some benign conditions that may increase the CEA level in the blood such as inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, etc.) or liver diseases (cirrhosis, hepatitis, etc.).
A severe CEA increase is usually a sign of a malignant tumor (colorectal or pancreatic cancer). It is necessary a visit to your doctor to get a proper treatment.
If the CEA blood test is performed after a treatment for cancer, such as colorectal cancer, a severe CEA increase is a sign of a poor prognosis. It may suggest a relapse of the cancer or metastasis. A CEA value over 100 ng/ml is usually a sign of metastasis.
There are some health circumstances or drugs than can raise the CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) in a blood test:
The most common diseases why the CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) can be higher than normal are:
If CEA is a bit high in a blood test and you want to lower the level the first step is to give up smoking. Tobacco is one of the main causes for a CEA elevation in the blood.
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The following values are considered to be above the normal range:
IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in ng/ml. They are an example of a healthy non-smoker man/woman of about 40 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.
CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild CEA increase | |||||||
| 5.1 ng/ml | 5.2 ng/ml | 5.3 ng/ml | 5.4 ng/ml | 5.5 ng/ml | 5.6 ng/ml | 5.7 ng/ml | 5.8 ng/ml |
| 5.9 ng/ml | 6 ng/ml | 6.1 ng/ml | 6.2 ng/ml | 6.3 ng/ml | 6.4 ng/ml | 6.5 ng/ml | 6.6 ng/ml |
| 6.7 ng/ml | 6.8 ng/ml | 6.9 ng/ml | 7 ng/ml | 7.1 ng/ml | 7.2 ng/ml | 7.3 ng/ml | 7.4 ng/ml |
| 7.5 ng/ml | 7.6 ng/ml | 7.7 ng/ml | 7.8 ng/ml | 7.9 ng/ml | 8 ng/ml | 8.1 ng/ml | 8.2 ng/ml |
| 8.3 ng/ml | 8.4 ng/ml | 8.5 ng/ml | 8.6 ng/ml | 8.7 ng/ml | 8.8 ng/ml | 8.9 ng/ml | 9 ng/ml |
| 9.1 ng/ml | 9.2 ng/ml | 9.3 ng/ml | 9.4 ng/ml | 9.5 ng/ml | 9.6 ng/ml | 9.7 ng/ml | 9.8 ng/ml |
| 9.9 ng/ml | 10 ng/ml | ||||||
| Moderate CEA increase | |||||||
| 10.1 ng/ml | 10.2 ng/ml | 10.3 ng/ml | 10.4 ng/ml | 10.5 ng/ml | 10.6 ng/ml | 10.7 ng/ml | 10.8 ng/ml |
| 10.9 ng/ml | 11 ng/ml | 11.1 ng/ml | 11.2 ng/ml | 11.3 ng/ml | 11.4 ng/ml | 11.5 ng/ml | 11.6 ng/ml |
| 11.7 ng/ml | 11.8 ng/ml | 11.9 ng/ml | 12 ng/ml | 12.1 ng/ml | 12.2 ng/ml | 12.3 ng/ml | 12.4 ng/ml |
| 12.5 ng/ml | 12.6 ng/ml | 12.7 ng/ml | 12.8 ng/ml | 12.9 ng/ml | 13 ng/ml | 13.1 ng/ml | 13.2 ng/ml |
| 13.3 ng/ml | 13.4 ng/ml | 13.5 ng/ml | 13.6 ng/ml | 13.7 ng/ml | 13.8 ng/ml | 13.9 ng/ml | 14 ng/ml |
| 14.1 ng/ml | 14.2 ng/ml | 14.3 ng/ml | 14.4 ng/ml | 14.5 ng/ml | 14.6 ng/ml | 14.7 ng/ml | 14.8 ng/ml |
| 14.9 ng/ml | 15 ng/ml | 15.1 ng/ml | 15.2 ng/ml | 15.3 ng/ml | 15.4 ng/ml | 15.5 ng/ml | 15.6 ng/ml |
| 15.7 ng/ml | 15.8 ng/ml | 15.9 ng/ml | 16 ng/ml | 16.1 ng/ml | 16.2 ng/ml | 16.3 ng/ml | 16.4 ng/ml |
| 16.5 ng/ml | 16.6 ng/ml | 16.7 ng/ml | 16.8 ng/ml | 16.9 ng/ml | 17 ng/ml | 17.1 ng/ml | 17.2 ng/ml |
| 17.3 ng/ml | 17.4 ng/ml | 17.5 ng/ml | 17.6 ng/ml | 17.7 ng/ml | 17.8 ng/ml | 17.9 ng/ml | 18 ng/ml |
| 18.1 ng/ml | 18.2 ng/ml | 18.3 ng/ml | 18.4 ng/ml | 18.5 ng/ml | 18.6 ng/ml | 18.7 ng/ml | 18.8 ng/ml |
| 18.9 ng/ml | 19 ng/ml | 19.1 ng/ml | 19.2 ng/ml | 19.3 ng/ml | 19.4 ng/ml | 19.5 ng/ml | 19.6 ng/ml |
| 19.7 ng/ml | 19.8 ng/ml | 19.9 ng/ml | 20 ng/ml | ||||
| Severe CEA increase | |||||||
| 20.1 ng/ml | 20.2 ng/ml | 20.3 ng/ml | 20.4 ng/ml | 20.5 ng/ml | 20.6 ng/ml | 20.7 ng/ml | 20.8 ng/ml |
| 20.9 ng/ml | 21 ng/ml | 21.1 ng/ml | 21.2 ng/ml | 21.3 ng/ml | 21.4 ng/ml | 21.5 ng/ml | 21.6 ng/ml |
| 21.7 ng/ml | 21.8 ng/ml | 21.9 ng/ml | 22 ng/ml | 22.1 ng/ml | 22.2 ng/ml | 22.3 ng/ml | 22.4 ng/ml |
| 22.5 ng/ml | 22.6 ng/ml | 22.7 ng/ml | 22.8 ng/ml | 22.9 ng/ml | 23 ng/ml | 23.1 ng/ml | 23.2 ng/ml |
| 23.3 ng/ml | 23.4 ng/ml | 23.5 ng/ml | 23.6 ng/ml | 23.7 ng/ml | 23.8 ng/ml | 23.9 ng/ml | 24 ng/ml |
| 24.1 ng/ml | 24.2 ng/ml | 24.3 ng/ml | 24.4 ng/ml | 24.5 ng/ml | 24.6 ng/ml | 24.7 ng/ml | 24.8 ng/ml |
| 24.9 ng/ml | 25 ng/ml | 25.1 ng/ml | 25.2 ng/ml | 25.3 ng/ml | 25.4 ng/ml | 25.5 ng/ml | 25.6 ng/ml |
| 25.7 ng/ml | 25.8 ng/ml | 25.9 ng/ml | 26 ng/ml | 26.1 ng/ml | 26.2 ng/ml | 26.3 ng/ml | 26.4 ng/ml |
| 26.5 ng/ml | 26.6 ng/ml | 26.7 ng/ml | 26.8 ng/ml | 26.9 ng/ml | 27 ng/ml | 27.1 ng/ml | 27.2 ng/ml |
| 27.3 ng/ml | 27.4 ng/ml | 27.5 ng/ml | 27.6 ng/ml | 27.7 ng/ml | 27.8 ng/ml | 27.9 ng/ml | 28 ng/ml |
| 28.1 ng/ml | 28.2 ng/ml | 28.3 ng/ml | 28.4 ng/ml | 28.5 ng/ml | 28.6 ng/ml | 28.7 ng/ml | 28.8 ng/ml |
| 28.9 ng/ml | 29 ng/ml | 29.1 ng/ml | 29.2 ng/ml | 29.3 ng/ml | 29.4 ng/ml | 29.5 ng/ml | 29.6 ng/ml |
| 29.7 ng/ml | 29.8 ng/ml | 29.9 ng/ml | 30 ng/ml | 30.1 ng/ml | 30.2 ng/ml | 30.3 ng/ml | 30.4 ng/ml |
| 30.5 ng/ml | 30.6 ng/ml | 30.7 ng/ml | 30.8 ng/ml | 30.9 ng/ml | 31 ng/ml | 31.1 ng/ml | 31.2 ng/ml |
| 31.3 ng/ml | 31.4 ng/ml | 31.5 ng/ml | 31.6 ng/ml | 31.7 ng/ml | 31.8 ng/ml | 31.9 ng/ml | 32 ng/ml |
| 32.1 ng/ml | 32.2 ng/ml | 32.3 ng/ml | 32.4 ng/ml | 32.5 ng/ml | 32.6 ng/ml | 32.7 ng/ml | 32.8 ng/ml |
| 32.9 ng/ml | 33 ng/ml | 33.1 ng/ml | 33.2 ng/ml | 33.3 ng/ml | 33.4 ng/ml | 33.5 ng/ml | 33.6 ng/ml |
| 33.7 ng/ml | 33.8 ng/ml | 33.9 ng/ml | 34 ng/ml | 34.1 ng/ml | 34.2 ng/ml | 34.3 ng/ml | 34.4 ng/ml |
| 34.5 ng/ml | 34.6 ng/ml | 34.7 ng/ml | 34.8 ng/ml | 34.9 ng/ml | 35 ng/ml | 35.1 ng/ml | 35.2 ng/ml |
| 35.3 ng/ml | 35.4 ng/ml | 35.5 ng/ml | 35.6 ng/ml | 35.7 ng/ml | 35.8 ng/ml | 35.9 ng/ml | 36 ng/ml |
| 36.1 ng/ml | 36.2 ng/ml | 36.3 ng/ml | 36.4 ng/ml | 36.5 ng/ml | 36.6 ng/ml | 36.7 ng/ml | 36.8 ng/ml |
| 36.9 ng/ml | 37 ng/ml | 37.1 ng/ml | 37.2 ng/ml | 37.3 ng/ml | 37.4 ng/ml | 37.5 ng/ml | 37.6 ng/ml |
| 37.7 ng/ml | 37.8 ng/ml | 37.9 ng/ml | 38 ng/ml | 38.1 ng/ml | 38.2 ng/ml | 38.3 ng/ml | 38.4 ng/ml |
| 38.5 ng/ml | 38.6 ng/ml | 38.7 ng/ml | 38.8 ng/ml | 38.9 ng/ml | 39 ng/ml | 39.1 ng/ml | 39.2 ng/ml |
| 39.3 ng/ml | 39.4 ng/ml | 39.5 ng/ml | 39.6 ng/ml | 39.7 ng/ml | 39.8 ng/ml | 39.9 ng/ml | 40 ng/ml |
| 40.1 ng/ml | 40.2 ng/ml | 40.3 ng/ml | 40.4 ng/ml | 40.5 ng/ml | 40.6 ng/ml | 40.7 ng/ml | 40.8 ng/ml |
| 40.9 ng/ml | 41 ng/ml | 41.1 ng/ml | 41.2 ng/ml | 41.3 ng/ml | 41.4 ng/ml | 41.5 ng/ml | 41.6 ng/ml |
| 41.7 ng/ml | 41.8 ng/ml | 41.9 ng/ml | 42 ng/ml | 42.1 ng/ml | 42.2 ng/ml | 42.3 ng/ml | 42.4 ng/ml |
| 42.5 ng/ml | 42.6 ng/ml | 42.7 ng/ml | 42.8 ng/ml | 42.9 ng/ml | 43 ng/ml | 43.1 ng/ml | 43.2 ng/ml |
| 43.3 ng/ml | 43.4 ng/ml | 43.5 ng/ml | 43.6 ng/ml | 43.7 ng/ml | 43.8 ng/ml | 43.9 ng/ml | 44 ng/ml |
| 44.1 ng/ml | 44.2 ng/ml | 44.3 ng/ml | 44.4 ng/ml | 44.5 ng/ml | 44.6 ng/ml | 44.7 ng/ml | 44.8 ng/ml |
| 44.9 ng/ml | 45 ng/ml | 45.1 ng/ml | 45.2 ng/ml | 45.3 ng/ml | 45.4 ng/ml | 45.5 ng/ml | 45.6 ng/ml |
| 45.7 ng/ml | 45.8 ng/ml | 45.9 ng/ml | 46 ng/ml | 46.1 ng/ml | 46.2 ng/ml | 46.3 ng/ml | 46.4 ng/ml |
| 46.5 ng/ml | 46.6 ng/ml | 46.7 ng/ml | 46.8 ng/ml | 46.9 ng/ml | 47 ng/ml | 47.1 ng/ml | 47.2 ng/ml |
| 47.3 ng/ml | 47.4 ng/ml | 47.5 ng/ml | 47.6 ng/ml | 47.7 ng/ml | 47.8 ng/ml | 47.9 ng/ml | 48 ng/ml |
| 48.1 ng/ml | 48.2 ng/ml | 48.3 ng/ml | 48.4 ng/ml | 48.5 ng/ml | 48.6 ng/ml | 48.7 ng/ml | 48.8 ng/ml |
| 48.9 ng/ml | 49 ng/ml | 49.1 ng/ml | 49.2 ng/ml | 49.3 ng/ml | 49.4 ng/ml | 49.5 ng/ml | 49.6 ng/ml |
| 49.7 ng/ml | 49.8 ng/ml | 49.9 ng/ml | 50 ng/ml | 50.1 ng/ml | 50.2 ng/ml | 50.3 ng/ml | 50.4 ng/ml |
| 50.5 ng/ml | 50.6 ng/ml | 50.7 ng/ml | 50.8 ng/ml | 50.9 ng/ml | 51 ng/ml | 51.1 ng/ml | 51.2 ng/ml |
| 51.3 ng/ml | 51.4 ng/ml | 51.5 ng/ml | 51.6 ng/ml | 51.7 ng/ml | 51.8 ng/ml | 51.9 ng/ml | 52 ng/ml |
| 52.1 ng/ml | 52.2 ng/ml | 52.3 ng/ml | 52.4 ng/ml | 52.5 ng/ml | 52.6 ng/ml | 52.7 ng/ml | 52.8 ng/ml |
| 52.9 ng/ml | 53 ng/ml | 53.1 ng/ml | 53.2 ng/ml | 53.3 ng/ml | 53.4 ng/ml | 53.5 ng/ml | 53.6 ng/ml |
| 53.7 ng/ml | 53.8 ng/ml | 53.9 ng/ml | 54 ng/ml | 54.1 ng/ml | 54.2 ng/ml | 54.3 ng/ml | 54.4 ng/ml |
| 54.5 ng/ml | 54.6 ng/ml | 54.7 ng/ml | 54.8 ng/ml | 54.9 ng/ml | 55 ng/ml | 55.1 ng/ml | 55.2 ng/ml |
| 55.3 ng/ml | 55.4 ng/ml | 55.5 ng/ml | 55.6 ng/ml | 55.7 ng/ml | 55.8 ng/ml | 55.9 ng/ml | 56 ng/ml |
| 56.1 ng/ml | 56.2 ng/ml | 56.3 ng/ml | 56.4 ng/ml | 56.5 ng/ml | 56.6 ng/ml | 56.7 ng/ml | 56.8 ng/ml |
| 56.9 ng/ml | 57 ng/ml | 57.1 ng/ml | 57.2 ng/ml | 57.3 ng/ml | 57.4 ng/ml | 57.5 ng/ml | 57.6 ng/ml |
| 57.7 ng/ml | 57.8 ng/ml | 57.9 ng/ml | 58 ng/ml | 58.1 ng/ml | 58.2 ng/ml | 58.3 ng/ml | 58.4 ng/ml |
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