What Causes a Positive Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) Test?
Disease description:
A relative went to the hospital for a checkup and was told that the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test came back positive. What causes an elevated CEA level?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Peng Xiaodong
A positive carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test may result from irregular lifestyle habits, improper dietary practices, or work-related factors leading to decreased immune function. Patients are advised to visit a qualified medical institution for further evaluation, including routine blood, urine, and stool tests; abdominal ultrasound; and colonoscopy—to rule out malignancy. If CEA levels persistently rise to more than twice the upper limit of normal, additional investigations are warranted to determine whether other tumor-related conditions are present.
