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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is The Ca19-9 Test Reliable?

hello my mother had gallbladder surgery because her gallbladder quite working. they removed it and they sent it for path study it came back positve for cancer of gallbladder the Doctor felt it did not go through the lining of the gallbladder. He said they would do routine blood work If liver functions go up they would do a Ct Scan. Her liver was elevated once and then they did CT Scan It showed swollen lymph nodes throughout her stomach but she feels great no symtons went oncologist and he did a CA19-9 the reading was 7 no cancer is this test reliable? The Doctor states that the reason why liver function was elevated because the lymph nodes in the area where the gallbladder was removed was pushing against the bile duct, her labs are good now. Does she have cancer or not?
Mon, 4 May 2015
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Radiologist,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for writing in.

The normal range of CA 19-9 in the blood of a healthy individual is 0-37 U/ml (Units per milliliter). CA 19-9 associated antigen levels are elevated in many patients with pancreatic cancer. However not all patients with cancer in the pancreas and gall bladder region will have elevated CA19-9 level elevated.

Since your mother has confirmed gall bladder cancer with multiple lymphnode enlargement in the stomach, it is important to treat her on grounds of cancer and provide complete treatment and pain relief. Many patients will not develop symptoms of cancer in the early stages even when there is lymphnode enlargement. There is probably no pressure on the normal structures like cystic duct and bile ducts due to the cancer and therefore she is not having major symptoms , however the liver function abnormalities can be due to lymphnodes causing pressure on the bile duct. It is important to test the lymphnodes for cancer if it has not been done and if confirmed to be cancer then start treatment. Please do not worry.
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Is The Ca19-9 Test Reliable?

Hi, Thanks for writing in. The normal range of CA 19-9 in the blood of a healthy individual is 0-37 U/ml (Units per milliliter). CA 19-9 associated antigen levels are elevated in many patients with pancreatic cancer. However not all patients with cancer in the pancreas and gall bladder region will have elevated CA19-9 level elevated. Since your mother has confirmed gall bladder cancer with multiple lymphnode enlargement in the stomach, it is important to treat her on grounds of cancer and provide complete treatment and pain relief. Many patients will not develop symptoms of cancer in the early stages even when there is lymphnode enlargement. There is probably no pressure on the normal structures like cystic duct and bile ducts due to the cancer and therefore she is not having major symptoms , however the liver function abnormalities can be due to lymphnodes causing pressure on the bile duct. It is important to test the lymphnodes for cancer if it has not been done and if confirmed to be cancer then start treatment. Please do not worry.