Association of Preoperative and Postoperative Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen and Colon Cancer Outcome

Abstract

Elevated preoperative CEA that normalizes after resection is not an indicator of poor prognosis. Routine measurement of postoperative, rather than preoperative, CEA is warranted. Patients with elevated postoperative CEA are at increased risk for recurrence, especially within the first 12 months after surgery.