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A Comparative Study of Bone Scan Findings and Serum Levels of Tumor Marker CA15-3 in Patients with Breast Carcinoma

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Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies in the world. Available staging procedures to detect breast cancer are bone scan, chest X-ray, liver ultrasonography, computerized tomography, estimation of tumor markers like carbohydrate antigen (CA15-3) and carcino embryonic antigen. These procedures are expensive and may not be required in all cases. Out of 70 patients studied, 55 had normal CA15-3 and 15 had elevated levels of Ca15-3. Eight (14.5%) of the 55 patients with normal CA15-3 had abnormal bone scan. Fifteen patients had CA15-3 levels above the normal range and among these 9 (60%) had abnormal bone scan. While prime facie it would appear that a high level of CA15-3 correlate with abnormal bone scan, it is also true that the numbers are small at present and conclusions about the validity of CA15-3 as marker of bone metastasis may be premature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, 400012, India

    Meera S. Ghadge, Purva P. Naik, Ruprekha M. Hegde & Tanaji J. Matale

  2. B/2 Gnyanadeep CHS, 17th Road, Santacruz West, Mumbai, 400054, India

    Meera S. Ghadge

  3. Radiation Medicine Centre, Tata Memorial Centre, Parel, Mumbai, 400012, India

    Bijaynath P. Tiwari

Authors
  1. Meera S. Ghadge
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  2. Purva P. Naik
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  3. Bijaynath P. Tiwari
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  4. Ruprekha M. Hegde
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  5. Tanaji J. Matale
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Correspondence to Meera S. Ghadge.

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Ghadge, M.S., Naik, P.P., Tiwari, B.P. et al. A Comparative Study of Bone Scan Findings and Serum Levels of Tumor Marker CA15-3 in Patients with Breast Carcinoma. Ind J Clin Biochem 27, 97–99 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-011-0168-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-011-0168-5

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