Tuberc Respir Dis.  2008 May;64(5):383-386. 10.4046/trd.2008.64.5.383.

A Case of Bronchiectasis with High Serum CA19-9

• Huh JH
• Lee SM
• Koo TH
• Shin BC
• Um SJ
• Yang DK
• Lee SK
• Son C
• Roh MS
• Kim KN
• Lee KN
• Choi PJ

• KMID: 1478196
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2008.64.5.383

Abstract

An elevated serum CA19-9 level is an indication of pancreatic and biliary tract cancer. However, it has recently become known that nonmalignant gastrointestinal diseases and a variety of nonmalignant respiratory diseases, such as idiopathic interstial pneumonia, collagen vascular disease associated lung diseases, diffuse panbronchiolitis and bronchiectasis, can also show an elevated serum CA19-9 level. We recently encountered a case of bronchiectasis with persistently elevated serum CA19-9, but without any evidence of malignant disease in endoscopic retrograde pancreatocholangiography, abdominal computed tomography, and positron emission tomography. After serial follow-up of 3 years and 10 months, there was still no evidence of cancer. It is believed that the elevated serum CA19-9 level was due to bronchiectasis. An elevated serum CA19-9 level should be interpreted carefully with the patients' clinical condition.

Keyword

CA19-9; Bronchiectasis; Benign

MeSH Terms

Biliary Tract Neoplasms
Bronchiectasis
Bronchiolitis
Collagen
Follow-Up Studies
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Haemophilus Infections
Lung Diseases
Pneumonia
Positron-Emission Tomography
Vascular Diseases
Bronchiolitis
Collagen
Haemophilus Infections

Figure

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  Figure 1 Abdominal computed tomography scan showed normal pancreas without tumor.

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  Figure 2 Chest computed tomography showed diffuse hazziness along the bronchial tree (A) and fibrostenotic right middle lobe and traction bronchiectasis (B).

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