An autopsied case of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, showing a remarkably elevated serum level of CA 19-9
Okino, T.; Yamadori, I.; Ogino, T.; Miki, H.; Hirakawa, E.; Morikawa, T.; Kobayashi, S.; Ohmori, M.; Bungo, M.; Yamaji, Y.
Gan no Rinsho. Japan Journal of Cancer Clinics 35(1): 69-73
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-4949 PMID: 2921812 Document Number: 333001
Discussed herein is an autopsied case of a 30-year-old male with Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia (IIP) manifesting a markedly elevated CA 19-9 in the serum (maximum, over 120,000 U/ml). Despite a careful examination, no malignant lesion was found. The postmortem examination revealed a marked elevation of CA 19-9 in the serum and in the lung tissue. Further immunohistochemically regenerative bronchiolar and alveolar epithelial cells were more intensely positive for CA 19-9 than in our controls. These CA 19-9 positive cells for the most part, were found to stain with alcian blue. It is considered that IIP induces activation of sialyl-transferase in these cells.