Serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels in head and neck cancer

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were estimated in sera of 25 patients with head and neck cancer. The levels were found to be significantly higher in patients as compared to the controls. However, the rise was nearly to the same extent in all the patients studied, irrespective of the site or character of lesion but was directly proportional to the stage of cancer and to the presence of lymphnode metastasis. After radiotherapy serum CEA levels were significantly reduced.