Differential diagnostic value of soluble epithelial cadherin in malignant and benign ascites / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the differential diagnostic value of soluble epithelial cadherin (sE-cad) in malignant and benign ascites. Methods The concentrations of sE-cad and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) in abdominal cavity synovia patients with benign diseases (31 cases), benign ascites(82 cases) and malignant ascites(119 cases) were ineasured by ELISA technique. Results The concentrations of sE-cad and CEA in malignant ascites patients were significantly higher than those in benign ascites patients and abdominal cavity synovia patients (P < 0.01). The sensitivity, negative predictive value and totally accurate rate of sE-cad was 89.9%, 86.8% and 92.5% respectively,which was significantly higher than those of CEA(68.1%, 65.8% and 76.6%)(P < 0.05). sE-cad in malignant ascites showed a certain tissue specificity. Conclusion sE-cad is an useful tumor marker in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant ascites.