Is CA 19-9 Test Measure Of 43 A Cause For Concern?

Posted on Thu, 16 Jun 2016

Question: I am wondering how worried I should be about a 43 on a CA19-9 tumor level test. Are slight elevations common?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Nothing to be worried..

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking on HCM.
You are reporting to have Ca 19-9 level at 43. The upper limit of normal is 37 U/ml.
In clinical practise your Ca 19-9 level is not significant, it is not called elevated level.
If you have done abdominal ultrasound /CT scan and there is no finding than there is nothing to be worried about ca 19-9 level.
Hope it was helpful to you.
Dr.Klerida

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (8 hours later)

Thank you for your answer. So minor elevations are nothing to worry about? Can they be caused by simple inflammation?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (29 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please follow

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Minor elevations are not important and you should not be worried about them.
It may be related with infection, gastrointestinal issues etc...
But as I said earlier your Ca 19-9 level has not clinical significance and it doesn't shows nothing.
Hope it was helpful to you.
Dr.Klerida

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (4 days later)

I did have an ultrasound which showed a mildly fatty liver and a mildly hetereogenous pancreas. Is that common? I know the fatty liver is, but the pancreas? Is it true that some changes occur with age (I am approaching middle age)?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (17 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please follow...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Heterogeneous pancreas is related most of the time with fatty pancreas in cases such as:
- alcohol use
- overweight
- familiar hyperlipidemia etc.
Yes you are right that fatty liver is more common but in fact fatty pancreas is known too.
It is not related with you age because you are only 38 years old( young age) and no important physical changes occur at your age.

Dr.Klerida

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (14 minutes later)

So with that being all they saw and the ca19-9 elevations being minimal, is there any concern? Also can fatty liver/fatty pancreas happen in people who are not overweight? I've never been overweight and I don't drink often but I do have high cholesterol. And have for some time.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
please follow,,,

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
Usually fatty liver /pancreas happens in overweight patients but high cholesterol level is an important cause of them.
There is nothing to be worried till now, try to control cholesterol level with diet or drugs .
hope it was helpful to you!
Dr.klerida

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar