Clinical UM Guideline
Subject: Cancer Antigen 19-9 Testing
Guideline #: CG-LAB-35 Publish Date: 10/01/2024
Status: New Last Review Date: 08/08/2024
Description

This document addresses serum tumor marker cancer antigen carbohydrate antigen sialyl Lewis (CA 19-9) testing.

Note: Please see the following related documents for additional information:

Clinical Indications

Medically Necessary:

  1. CA 19-9 testing is considered medically necessary for either clinical scenario (A or B) and the following conditions (C):
    1. As part of initial evaluation for suspected or diagnosed disease; or
    2. To determine whether residual tumor exists post-surgical therapy;
      and
    3. Conditions:
      1. Ampullary adenocarcinoma; or
      2. Appendiceal adenocarcinoma; or
      3. Biliary tract cancers (gallbladder, cholangiocarcinoma); or
      4. Ovarian, primary peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer; or
      5. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma; or
      6. Small bowel adenocarcinoma (duodenum, jejunum, ileum).
  2. CA 19-9 is considered medically necessary for the evaluation of occult primary cancer.
  3. Repeat CA 19-9 testing* is considered medically necessary when used to:
    1. Monitor response to therapy; or
    2. Assess for recurrence when suggested by clinical factors.

*See Discussion/General Information section below for additional information on medical society guideline recommendations regarding the clinical appropriateness of testing frequency.

Not Medically Necessary:

CA 19-9 testing is considered not medically necessary when the criteria above are not met, including, but not limited to, as a screening test in an average risk individual.

Coding

The following codes for treatments and procedures applicable to this guideline are included below for informational purposes. Inclusion or exclusion of a procedure, diagnosis or device code(s) does not constitute or imply member coverage or provider reimbursement policy. Please refer to the member's contract benefits in effect at the time of service to determine coverage or non-coverage of these services as it applies to an individual member.

When services are Medically Necessary:

CPT

 

86301

Immunoassay for tumor antigen, quantitative; CA 19-9

 

 

ICD-10 Diagnosis

 

C17.0-C17.9

Malignant neoplasm of small intestine

C18.1

Malignant neoplasm of appendix

C22.1

Intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma

C23-C24.9

Malignant neoplasm of gallbladder, other and unspecified parts of biliary tract

C25.0-C25.9

Malignant neoplasm of pancreas

C48.0-C48.8

Malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum and peritoneum

C56.1-C56.9

Malignant neoplasm of ovary

C57.00-C57.9

Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified female genital organs

C7A.020

Malignant carcinoid tumor of the appendix

C78.4-C78.5

Secondary malignant neoplasm of small intestine, large intestine and rectum

C78.6

Secondary malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum and peritoneum

C78.7

Secondary malignant neoplasm of liver and intrahepatic bile duct

C78.80-C78.89

Secondary malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified digestive organ

C79.60-C79.63

Secondary malignant neoplasm of ovary

C80.1

Malignant (primary) neoplasm, unspecified

D01.0

Carcinoma in situ of colon

D01.40-D01.7

Carcinoma in situ of other and unspecified parts of intestine, liver, gallbladder and bile ducts, pancreas

G89.3

Neoplasm related pain (acute) (chronic)

K83.1

Obstruction of bile duct

N83.9

Noninflammatory disorder of ovary, fallopian tube and broad ligament, unspecified

R10.0-R10.9

Abdominal and pelvic pain

R17

Unspecified jaundice

R19.00-R19.09

Intra-abdominal and pelvic swelling, mass and lump

R79.89

Other specified abnormal findings of blood chemistry

R93.2

Abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging of liver and biliary tract

R94.5

Abnormal results of liver function studies

R97.8

Other abnormal tumor markers

Z85.030-Z85.038

Personal history of malignant neoplasm of large intestine

Z85.05-Z85.09

Personal history of malignant neoplasm of liver, small intestine, pancreas, other digestive organs

Z85.43-Z85.44

Personal history of malignant neoplasm of ovary, other female genital organs

Z85.831

Personal history of malignant neoplasm of soft tissue

When services are Not Medically Necessary:
For the procedure codes listed above for all other diagnoses not listed.

Discussion/General Information

The protein CA 19-9 is present in small amounts in healthy individuals. It is produced by the cells lining the ducts of the gallbladder, bile duct, and pancreas. Significantly elevated levels of CA 19-9 can indicate an underlying health issue, such as pancreatic cancer, gallbladder disease, or conditions related to the pancreas or bile duct. CA 19-9 testing has widely been utilized as a marker in prognosticating and managing pancreaticobiliary malignancies. The diagnostic utility of CA 19-9 is limited due to its relatively low sensitivity and specificity, but it has been used as part of a diagnostic evaluation under certain conditions.

Elevated levels of CA 19-9 can be associated with conditions other than malignancies, including pancreatitis, cholestasis, acute hepatitis, chronic liver disease, diabetes mellitus, intestinal pulmonary disease, and collagen vascular disease (Lim, 2022). While the exact mechanism is unknown, elevated serum CA 19-9 levels may be the result of overproduction caused by irritated bile duct cells and inflammatory proliferation of epithelial cells (Lim, 2022). Elevated levels may also be the result of normal production of sialyl Lewis a by non-malignant epithelial cells along with an occlusion of efferent ducts in the pancreas, leading to an accumulation of the biomarker and a backflow into the general circulation (Kannagi, 2007). Approximately 10% of the population do not express CA 19-9 which negatively affects the clinical utility of the test (Bowlus, 2023; Tsen, 2018).

Ampullary Adenocarcinoma

Ampullary tumors arise from an area known as the Ampulla of Vater, which is composed of three distinct anatomical structures - the ampulla, the bile duct portion within the duodenum, and the pancreatic duct segment inside the duodenum. Individuals with ampullary adenocarcinoma often present with obstructive jaundice. According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guideline on Ampullary Adenocarcinoma (V2.2024) most individuals with ampullary adenocarcinoma present with elevated CA 19-9 levels, although approximately 37% of these individuals have normal CA 19-9 levels.

In 2023, Lee and associates evaluated the relationship between the level of tumor marker CA 19-9 and prognosis to identify an optimal cutoff value for the marker to better evaluate an individual’s prognosis and to determine treatment strategies. Individuals who had undergone curative resection of ampullary cancer at a single institution (n=385) were included in the retrospective analysis. A cutoff value of 46 U/mL was found to be a significant diagnostic and prognostic factor. The use of CA 19-9 testing as a diagnostic preoperative element is useful as the diagnostic accuracy endoscopic imaging is 67.3% and the diagnostic accuracy of the initial biopsy is 67.3-81.0%. The authors concluded that CA 19-9 can be used as an important reference point, along with other prognostic factors when deciding on treatment plans. Multiple studies have shown that elevated preoperative CA 19-9 levels have been associated with poorer outcomes, such as recurrence (Boyev, 2023; Klein, 2014; Ma, 2020; Okano, 2014; Todoroki, 2003).

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guideline on Ampullary Adenocarcinoma (V2.2024) recommends obtaining a CA 19-9 level at presentation as high levels of CA 19-9 is considered a high-risk feature and may affect treatment decisions. CA 19-9 levels are considered a prognostic factor for survival and recurrence. Monitoring CA 19-9 levels is also recommended during the surveillance period every 3 to 6 months for 2 years, then every 6 to 12 months for up to 5 years or as clinically indicated.

Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma

Primary appendiceal adenocarcinoma is a rare type of cancer. Primary appendiceal mucinous adenocarcinoma has an age-adjusted incidence of 0.12 per million per year (Fackche, 2021). Appendiceal cancer is frequently discovered incidentally during an appendectomy following clinical presentation of acute appendicitis. Management is based upon the classification, grade and stage of the neoplasm.

The use of tumor markers as a prognostic factor in individuals undergoing treatment has been evaluated. CA 19-9 and another tumor marker, carcinoembrionic antigen (CEA) have been determined to be independent prognostic markers regarding progression-free and overall survival or indicative of higher disease burden (Fackche, 2021; Fournier, 2017; Nizam, 2022; Wagner, 2013; Yousef, 2024).

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guideline on Colon Cancer (V4.2024) note that for appendiceal adenocarcinoma, CA 19-9 and CEA levels should be taken at clinical presentation and abnormal measurements should be trended. These 2 tumor markers are used as prognostic indicators for individuals receiving cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Biliary Tract Cancers

Biliary tract cancers consist of tumors which originate from the epithelial cells lining the biliary tract. Biliary tract cancers are a subgroup of cancers which fall under the spectrum of hepatobiliary cancers and include the intrahepatic bile duct, extrahepatic bile duct, gall bladder, and ampulla of Vater (Zamani, 2023).

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA)

CCA, also known as bile duct cancer, can be categorized as intrahepatic or extrahepatic CCA. Intrahepatic CCA is the second most common type of primary liver tumor, making up 10 to 15% of these tumors (Mejia. 2020). Extrahepatic CCAs make up approximately one-third of biliary tract cancers. There are typically few or vague presenting symptoms associated with CCA, it is often diagnosed at the locally advanced or metastatic stage. Multiple studies have shown that monitoring CA 19-9 levels provides clinical utility when managing CCA (Cai, 2023; Hahn, 2020; Li, 2016; Mejia, 2020; Otto, 2024; Takahara, 2017; Yin, 2012).

Liang and colleagues (2015) published a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the diagnostic performance of CA 19-9 for CCA. A total of 31 articles which included individuals with confirmed CCA who had CA 19-9 testing in the diagnostic phase (n=1264) and controls (n=2039) were evaluated. The type of controls within the studies varied and included normal controls, individuals with benign disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The researchers concluded that CA 19-9 was associated with a moderate diagnostic performance with an overall pooled sensitivity of 0.72 (0.70–0.75) and specificity of 0.84 (0.82–0.85).

The 2015 American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association expert consensus statement on intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma note that the tumor markers CA 19-9 and CEA are not sufficiently sensitive enough to definitively rule out intrahepatic CCA when the levels are normal. However, discordance between tumor marker elevation and imaging results may suggest combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. Tumor markers CA 19-9 and CEA are both indicated as part of the workup, CA 19-9 is elevated in approximately 50% of intrahepatic CCA cases and CEA is elevated in only 15-20% of cases.

In 2023, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) published a practice guideline addressing primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and cholangiocarcinoma (Bowlus). While there are concerns about the specificity and sensitivity, an elevated CA 19-9 may be the only sign of CCA. A combination of CA 19-9 and other testing modalities (imaging or assessing for chromosomal aneuploidy) increases the sensitivity of testing. The AASLD includes the following guidance statements which address the role of CA 19-9 testing:

  1. CCA and gallbladder carcinoma surveillance should be performed annually and include abdominal imaging, preferably by MRI/ MRCP with or without serum CA 19‐9. Surveillance is not recommended for patients with PSC under 18 years of age or with small‐duct PSC.
  1. ERCP may be indicated for the evaluation of relevant strictures as well as new‐onset or worsening pruritus, unexplained weight loss, worsening serum liver test abnormalities, rising serum CA 19‐9, recurrent bacterial cholangitis, or progressive bile duct dilation. MRI/MRCP should be considered prior to ERCP to clarify the need for biliary intervention and guide the technical approach.

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guideline on Biliary Tract Cancers (V3.2024) recommend CA 19-9 as baseline workup tests, after initial hepatobiliary surgery or when a mass on imaging or jaundice is present, as well as for surveillance after resection, as clinically indicated. As CA 19-9 is not specific, CA 19-9 should be completed as part of a comprehensive baseline assessment and should not be used to confirm diagnosis.

While CA 19-9 is not indicated as a biomarker for individuals with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), an elevated CA 19-9 level in these individuals may be indicative of intrahepatic CCA or mixed HCC-CCA. In the NCCN Clinical Practice Guideline on Hepatocellular Carcinoma (V2.2024), an elevated CA 19-9 level may warrant further investigation with core needle biopsy to rule out intrahepatic CCA or mixed HCC-CCA.

The measurement of CA 19-9 is also used in individuals with CCA who are undergoing evaluation for a liver transplant. An individual with hilar CCA with a malignant appearing cholangiography who is a liver transplant candidate may be eligible for a MELD or PELD score exception when there is a documented CA 19-9 greater than 100 U/mL in absence of cholangitis.

Gall Bladder

Gallbladder cancer is the most common type of biliary tract cancers, although it is considered to be rare with an estimated 12,350 new cases diagnosed and 4530 deaths in 2024 (American Cancer Society). Compared to hilar CCA, gallbladder cancer is associated with poorer outcomes.

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guideline on Biliary Tract Cancers (V3.2024) recommend CEA and CA 19-9 as part of the initial workup of gallbladder cancer and should be done in conjunction with imaging studies. The NCCN panel does not recommend CA 19-9 testing as a diagnostic test for potential gallbladder cancer as CA 19-9 levels can be elevated in individuals with jaundice from other causes. Subsequent CA 19-9 testing following treatment may be clinically indicated to monitor for disease relapse or progression.

Occult Primary Cancer (also known as Cancer of Unknown Primary origin [CUP])

Cancers are named based on their primary site regardless of where in the body they spread. The National Cancer Institute defines Occult Primary Cancer as a cancer in which the site of the original tumor cannot be found. When metastatic carcinoma is histologically confirmed in the absence of clinical, radiographic, or pathologic findings of the primary site, it is called occult primary cancer or cancer of unknown primary (CUP). CUP can sometimes be classified in categories that predict the primary site and target therapies to increase survival (Conner, 2015).

The NCCN Occult Primary Cancer Clinical Practice Guideline (V2.2024) identified CA 19-9 as a useful marker for CUP and may be useful in certain circumstances during the initial evaluation of a suspected metastatic malignancy. This test is not considered diagnostic and “caution must be exercised in their interpretation”.

Ovarian, primary peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer

Ovarian tumors consist of several histopathologic entities with epithelial ovarian cancer accounting for approximately 90% of cases. Epithelial cancer subtypes include endometrioid, carcinosarcoma, clear cell, mucinous, and borderline epithelial tumors. Elevated CA 19-9 levels is thought to be most associated with mucinous tumors, similar to mucinous tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Approximately 12-15% of all ovarian tumors are categorized as primary mucinous tumors. Most primary mucinous tumors are benign (75%) with the rest classified as borderline (10%) or malignant (15%) (Cho, 2014).

Song and colleagues (2018) evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic value of CA125 or CA 19-9 measurements in individuals with borderline ovarian tumors. Preoperative CA125 and CA 19-9 values were used to evaluate whether elevated levels could assist in identifying advanced-stage disease, the prognostic significance of elevated levels and whether elevated levels could discriminate the histological type of tumor (serous and mucinous). CA 19-9 levels were elevated more often in mucinous tumors compared to serous tumors.

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guideline on Ovarian Cancer (V3.2024) recommends CA 19-9 testing in individuals with mucinous ovarian neoplasms as part of the additional workup following diagnosis. While CA-125 is considered the primary tumor marker used to aid in the diagnosis and management of ovarian cancer, other tumor markers, such as CA 19-9 may provide useful information. Monitoring CA 19-9 levels may also be used to monitor for recurrence in individuals with mucinous tumors and in individuals with high pre-treatment CA 19-9 levels.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma

CA 19-9 is recognized as a useful tumor marker in the management of pancreatic cancer and is “the only biomarker that is recommended for clinical use by pancreatic cancer guidelines” (Stoop, 2024). Tzeng and colleagues (2014) evaluated the relationship between CA 19-9 levels and clinical outcomes in 141 individuals with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer who were treated with neoadjuvant therapy (NT). Individuals in this group were generally treated with chemoradiation prior to potential surgical resection. The evaluation included individuals who underwent resection and those who did not undergo resection. Normalization of CA 19-9 levels following treatment was associated with a longer median overall survival (OS) in both the resected and unresected group. Following resection, the positive predictive value of a CA 19-9 level decline was 70% and the negative predictive value of a CA 19-9 level increase was 88%. The authors noted:

In patients with borderline resectable PDAC (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma), the CA 19-9 changes observed over the course of NT appear to provide insight into tumour biology and treatment response, which, unlike in other solid tumours, cannot be evaluated radiographically.

Azizian and colleagues (2020) analyzed the accuracy of CA 19-9 in pancreatic cancer recurrence in individuals with PDAC who underwent curative surgical resection primarily followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. At a point of 2.45 times elevated CA 19-9 values, recurrence was detected with a 90% positive predictive value. The results indicated that elevated CA19-9 levels were predictive of recurrence with high specificity and moderate sensitivity. The study suggested that an increase in these levels is an early, reliable sign of recurrence and can be used to make treatment decisions, and that regular testing may help improve accuracy.

Consistent findings have been reported through retrospective studies that acknowledge the role of CA 19-9 as a prognostic indicator and/or a monitoring mechanism for disease progression in individuals with pancreatic cancer (Newhook, 2023; Tsai, 2020; van Veldhuisen, 2018; Ye, 2020).

The American College of Radiology ACR Appropriateness Criteria document on resectable pancreatic cancer (2016) addresses the use of the CA 19-9 biomarker in the management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

The 2006 and 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommendations for tumor marker use in gastrointestinal cancers does not recommend CA 19-9 testing alone to determine or assess the operability of individuals with pancreatic cancer. CA 19-9 was noted to be useful in conjunction with other testing in the management of locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer and contain the following recommendations:

CA19-9 determinations by themselves cannot provide definitive evidence of disease recurrence without seeking confirmation with imaging studies for clinical findings and/or biopsy.
Present data are insufficient to recommend the routine use of serum CA19-9 levels alone for monitoring response to treatment. However, CA19-9 can be measured at the start of treatment for locally advanced metastatic disease and every one to three months during active treatment. If there is an elevation in serial CA19-9 determinations, this may be an indication of progressive disease and confirmation with other studies should be sought.

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guideline on Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma (V3.2024) notes that CA 19-9 is the best validated and most clinically useful biomarker for the early detection and surveillance of pancreatic cancer. The NCCN recommends CA 19-9 testing “after neoadjuvant treatment, prior to surgery, following surgery immediately prior to administration of adjuvant therapy, and for surveillance”. The NCCN guideline further clarifies the recommendation noting:

The panel emphasizes the importance of obtaining a CA 19-9 measurement immediately before the therapeutic intervention to have an accurate baseline from which to follow response; for example, before and after neoadjuvant therapy in patients with tumors that are borderline resectable.

A markedly elevated CA 19-9 level is considered a high-risk feature along with other findings, such as equivocal or indeterminate imaging, borderline resectable disease, large primary tumors, or large regional lymph nodes. These features carry implications for prognosis and treatment. In cases where a person initially presents with an untreatable disease, a substantial reduction in CA 19-9 levels accompanied by clinical improvement could indicate a positive response to the neoadjuvant therapy. Such a response may warrant a reassessment of the individual's condition for potential treatment options. Following neoadjuvant therapy, disease progression is defined as a rising CA 19-9 level or an enlargement of the mass. In individuals undergoing resection, low postoperative levels or a serial decrease following surgery is considered a positive prognostic indicator. In individuals with advanced disease, pre-treatment CA 19-9 levels are considered an independent prognostic factor for survival. Serial CA 19-9 levels and CT scans for surveillance following resected disease is recommended every 3 to 6 months for 2 years.

Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma (duodenum jejunum and ileum)

The small intestine is the longest segment of mucosa in the gastrointestinal tract. Small bowel adenocarcinoma or cancer of the small intestine is an uncommon disease, representing only 0.06% of all new cancers diagnosed each year (Chen, 2018).

Altshuler and colleagues (2023) reported on the importance of CA 19-9 and CEA levels used as a prognostic indicator in individuals with duodenal adenocarcinoma. In 2022, Lim and associates identified the independent prognostic factors of individuals with resected non-ampullary duodenal adenocarcinomas (NADA) without metastasis at a tertiary cancer center. The median survival and disease-free survival in individuals with elevated CA 19-9 levels was significantly lower than in those with normal CA 19-9. In addition to CA 19-9 levels, age and symptoms at diagnosis were prognostic factors for survival following surgery. These studies along with other retrospective, single institution studies (Hirashita, 2018) provide some evidence, although limited, on the utility of CA 19-9.

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guideline on Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma (V4.2024) recommends CA 19-9 testing for the evaluation of jejunum, ileum, gastrointestinal, and metastatic adenocarcinoma. The surveillance protocol recommendations include CA 19-9 testing every 3-6 months for a period of 2 years, then every 6 months for a total of 5 years. While there is limited prospective data to clearly define the optimal management, Chen (2018) notes “Currently accepted treatment considerations are often generalized from large bowel and pancreatic–biliary cancers, due to some anatomic and clinical parallels”.

Other relevant information

FDA labeled indications exist for a number of assays for quantitative measurement of CA 19-9 in serum and plasma to aid in the management of individuals with cancer in whom changing concentrations of CA 19-9 are observed.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) National Coverage Determination (NCD) 190.30 titled, Tumor Antigen by Immunoassay - CA 19-9, provides a framework for coverage consistent with demonstration of clinical utility. Available at: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/ncd.aspx?ncdid=142&ncdver=1&keyword=CA%2019-9&keywordType=starts&areaId=all&docType=NCA,CAL,NCD,MEDCAC,TA,MCD,6,3,5,1,F,P&contractOption=all&sortBy=relevance&bc=1.

Conclusion

The use of CA 19-9 testing in oncologic disease is in accordance with generally accepted standards of medical practice and considered clinically appropriate for the evaluation, staging, treatment planning, monitoring of treatment response, and surveillance.

Other Conditions

The 2006 ASCO recommendations for tumor marker use in gastrointestinal cancers does not recommend CA 19-9 testing in the diagnosis or management of colorectal cancer noting there is insufficient data to recommend CA 19-9 testing. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guideline on Colon Cancer (V4.2024) does not recommend CA 19-9 testing for any condition other than appendiceal adenocarcinoma. While elevated levels CA 19-9 may be found in the presence of other cancers in limited numbers, the studies have not shown clinical benefit evaluating CA 19-9 levels when diagnosing or managing these cancers. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines do not address CA 19-9 testing for other types of cancer not listed earlier.

Screening test

There is a lack of sensitivity and specificity associated with CA 19-9 testing which make this an inaccurate screening test (Zamani, 2023). Approximately 5-10% of the general population are “Lewis negative individuals” and do not express CA 19-9 (Azizian, 2020; Bowlus, 2023). Balaban and associates (2022) describe the physiology of these individuals:

Expression of CA 19-9 requires the presence of Lewis antigens A [Le(a+b-)] or B [Le(a-b+)], meaning that [Le(a-b-)] are theoretically non-producers of CA 19-9[8]. Lewis negative individuals ([Le(a-b-)]) lack the enzyme α1-3,4 fucosyltransferase, which is required for CA 19-9 biosynthesis… As CA 19-9 secretion is dependent on the Lewis antigen expression, undetectable false negative results can occur in Lewis antigen-negative individuals, meaning [Le(a−b−)] non-expressors. This could represent a cause of delayed diagnosis in these patients and a pitfall in screening strategies based on CA 19-9.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against screening for pancreatic cancer in asymptomatic adults. No NCCN guidelines recommend CA 19-9 testing to screen for the presence of cancer. The 2006 ASCO guidelines note that CA19-9 is not recommended as a screening test for pancreatic cancer. It is widely accepted that CA 19-9 is ineffective as a screening tool (Ballehaninna, 2012; Henrikson, 2019; Kim, 2004; Lee, 2019; Lee, 2020).

Definitions

Biomarker: A measurable indicator of a biological state or condition obtained from bodily fluids, such as blood or urine, or tissue samples. Biomarkers are used to diagnose diseases, monitor disease progression, predict disease prognosis, and track treatment response.

Diagnostic Test: A test conducted on individuals who exhibit signs, symptoms, or risk factors of a particular condition for the purpose of identifying the presence or absence of a specific disease or condition.

Hepatobiliary cancers: An aggressive grouping of cancers which originate in the liver. These cancers include hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), gall bladder, and intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (bile ducts).

Mucinous cancers: A specific subtype of cancer characterized by the presence of extracellular mucin, a gel-like substance produced by some epithelial tissues and cells that may be found in cancers of the breast, colon, appendix, ovary, and lung among others.

Prognostic Test: A test performed on individuals who have been diagnosed with a disease. Tests are used to predict the probable outcome or prognosis of the disease, provide information about the likelihood of disease progression, response to treatment, or overall survival.

Progression: Disease worsens or spreads without ever having gone away.

Recurrence: Cancer that has returned post treatment, often undetected for a certain period of time. Recurrence can happen at the same location as the initial tumor or at a different site in the body.

Screening Test: A test administered to individuals when there are no signs or symptoms of a specific condition.

Surveillance: It is used to detect early signs of recurrence in diseases, particularly cancer, or to monitor individuals at an increased risk of a disease.

Tumor Marker: Any element found in or generated by cancer cells or other body cells in reaction to cancer or certain noncancerous conditions. This marker gives vital information about the cancer, including its aggressiveness, whether it is treatable with specific therapy, or its responsiveness to ongoing treatment.

References

Peer Reviewed Publications:

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Government Agency, Medical Society, and Other Authoritative Publications:

  1. American College of Radiology (ACR). Expert Panel on Gastrointestinal Imaging; Hindman NM, Arif-Tiwari H, Kamel IR, et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Jaundice. J Am Coll Radiol. 2019 May;16(5S):S126-S140.
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  4. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). National Coverage Determination: Tumor Antigen by Immunoassay - CA 19-9. NCD #190.30. Effective November 25, 2002. Available at: https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/ncd.aspx?ncdid=142&ncdver=1&keyword=CA%2019-9&keywordType=starts&areaId=all&docType=NCA,CAL,NCD,MEDCAC,TA,MCD,6,3,5,1,F,P&contractOption=all&sortBy=relevance&bc=1. Accessed on July 15, 2024.
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Websites for Additional Information
  1. American Cancer Society.
  2. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Tumor Marker Tests in Common Use. Last reviewed December 7, 2023. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/diagnosis-staging/diagnosis/tumor-markers-list. Accessed on July 8, 2024.
Index

CA 19-9
Cancer Antigen 19-9
Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9

The use of specific product names is illustrative only. It is not intended to be a recommendation of one product over another, and is not intended to represent a complete listing of all products available.

History

Status

Date

Action

New

08/08/2024

Medical Policy & Technology Assessment Committee (MPTAC) review. Initial document development.

 

 

 


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