Case Report

Prolonged High Levels of CA 19-9 After Cholecystectomy: A Case Report

  • Muhammet Gökhan TURTAY
  • Cengiz CEYLAN

Received Date: 19.01.2009 Accepted Date: 06.05.2009 Meandros Med Dent J 2009;10(3):43-45

Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), is a glycosphingolipid known as one of the serum tumor markers. Although CA 19-9 is a tumor marker which used in pancreatic, biliary, hepatocellular and gastrointestinal malignancies, high levels of CA19-9 have also been reported in pancreatitis and benign biliary tract diseases as cholangitis, cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis. In this case report, we present a case with prolonged high levels of CA19-9 after cholecystectomy. Case was a 41 years-old patient who had laparascopic cholecystectomy operation due to chronic cholecystitis and high levels of CA 19-9. The levels of CA 19-9 increased up to 2169 U/mL and returned to normal levels five months after the operation. It should be considered that prolonged high levels ofCA 19-9 might occur after cholecystectomy.

Keywords: CA-19-9 antigen; cholecystectomy; cholecystitis