Published in:
01-10-2009 | 2008 SSAT Poster Presentation
Very High Serum CA 19-9 Levels: A Contraindication to Pancreaticoduodenectomy?
Published in: Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery | Issue 10/2009
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Aim
To assess the outcome of patients with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) associated with high serum CA 19-9 levels.
Methods
From 2000 to 2007, 344 patients underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for PA. Fifty-three patients (elevated group) had preoperatively elevated serum CA 19-9 levels (>400 IU/ml) after resolution of obstructive jaundice. Of these, 27 patients had high levels (400–899 IU/ml (HL)) and 26 patients had very high levels ≥900 IU/ml (VHL). Fifty patients with normal preoperative serum CA 19-9 levels (<37 IU/ml) comprised the control group.
Results
Median survival of the control group (n = 50) versus elevated group (n = 53) was 22 versus 15 months (p = 0.02) and overall 3-year survival was 32% versus 14% (p = 0.03). There was no statistical difference in the median and 3-year overall survival between patients with HL and VHL. Patients in the elevated group who normalized their CA 19-9 levels after surgery (n = 11) had a survival equivalent to patients in the control group.
Conclusions
Patients who normalized their CA19-9 levels postoperatively had equivalent survival to patients with normal preoperative CA 19-9 levels. Preoperative serum CA 19-9 level by itself should not preclude surgery in patients who have undergone careful preoperative staging.