Laboratory parameters of the 1st order – obligatory laboratory tests.
- Test for occult (invisible) blood in stool.
- Histological examination: this is mandatory for any polyp.
Laboratory parameters 2nd order – depending on the results of the history, physical examination and the obligatory laboratory parameters – for differential diagnostic clarification of suspected degeneration.
- CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) – CEA level is an independent prognostic tumor marker and should therefore be determined preoperatively when colon cancer is suspected
- CCSA (colon cancer-specific antigen-3, CCSA-4) – this test for colon cancer proteins in the blood can be used to detect 91 percent of diseases
- CA 19-9 (carbohydrate antigen 19-9) – elevated in circa 70% of cases (but not specific for carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract).
