CA 72.4 Test

CA 72.4 test is performed in individuals who are at high risk of developing gastric carcinomas.
Risk factors for gastric carcinoma include:

• Helicobacter pylori infection
• Chronic gastritis
• Pernicious anaemia
• Gastric polyps
• Epstein–Barr virus infection
• Intestinal metaplasia
• Family history of adenomatous polyposis (familial adenomatous polyposis) or stomach cancer
• Diet rich in salt and smoked food and low in vegetables and fruits
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Menetrier disease

Symptoms of stomach carcinoma, if at all present in any individual, are:

• Stomach discomfort and indigestion
• Bloated feeling
• Nausea
• Heartburn
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Blood in stool
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain or burning, especially after meals
• Jaundice
• Ascites
• Difficulty in swallowing

CA 72.4 test is sometimes used in conjunction with CEA levels, CA 19.9 levels and alpha-fetoprotein levels to screen high-risk patients for stomach carcinoma.
The test is also performed in patients, who already have stomach carcinoma and have undergone either surgery or chemoradiotherapy, to check for response to the therapy.

Additionally, the test is sometimes used in cases of cancer of the female reproductive organs, especially to check for the recurrence of cancer.

No special preparations are necessary for a CA 72.4 test.

It is simple that takes less than 5 minutes. An experienced laboratory specialist will withdraw a blood sample from a vein in your arm using a small needle. A small amount of blood will be collected in a sterile vial or test tube, which will then be sent to a laboratory for further analysis.

You may feel a momentary pricking pain as the needle goes in. Also, there is a minimal risk of pain and bruising at the site of injection along with light-headedness. However, mostly, these symptoms disappear quickly.

Levels of CA 72.4 are measured in terms of units/mL.

Normal results:
Normal levels of CA 72.4 are up to 6 units/mL.

Abnormal results:
CA 72.4 levels above 6 units/mL are considered as high.
High levels of CA 72.4 indicate the following:

• Stomach carcinoma
• Poor response to the therapy for stomach cancer
• Recurrence of stomach cancer after successful treatment

Rising levels of CA 72.4 indicate poor response or recurrence of stomach cancer; whereas, reducing levels indicate a positive response to the therapy for cancer.
In addition, high levels of CA 72.4 may indicate other forms of adenocarcinomas of the gastrointestinal system. It is also helpful in screening for abdominal neoplasms.

In certain gynaecological malignancies, which show positive or elevated CA 72.4 levels, serial evaluation of CA 72.4 becomes a helpful tool to check for the recurrence. Increasing levels of 72.4 levels in these conditions indicate recurrence of malignancies.

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.