Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

cell and endodermal sinus. Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) The carcinoembryonic antigen is not used for the purpose of diagnosing any tumor, but is used during the treatment of patients suffering from colorectal cancer. An elevated level of CEA shows the advancement of cancer; higher CEA shows that the disease is more advanced. Post treatment, the elevated level of CEA should normalize within four to six weeks. CEA should be tested every three to six months after treatment of the colorectal tumor to rule out the incidence of recurrence. Other cancers in which the CEA marker is high include lung cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, pancreas cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, ovary cancer, and bladder cancer. It should also be noted that the marker may also be elevated when the cancerous cells are absent, but the person is a chronic smoker. Effects of Tumors on the Host The interaction between the tumor and host is characterized by certain signals and symptoms exhibited by the body, and can include a change in bowel habit, a sore or wound that is not able to heal, a formation of a lump, unusual bleeding or discharge, nagging cough, or a change in a mole. These effects can either be local or systemic. The local effects include the destruction of vital structure, obstruction, ulceration, necrosis. and a predisposition to infection, bleeding, hemorrhage, pain, and thrombosis. In contrast, the systemic effects include weight loss, cachexia, fever, anemia, reduced resistance to infections, hormone production, and paraneoplastic syndromes. Paraneoplastic syndromes are the presence of a clinical constellation of symptoms among cancer patients, which are not otherwise explained with the help of local or distant spread of the tumor or by the functioning tumors of the endocrine glands. The presence of paraneoplastic syndrome is characterized by the production of specific hormones. For instance, ACTH hormone produced under Cushing’s syndrome signifies the presence of oat-cell carcinoma of the lung and pancreas.

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