Prognostic significance of preoperative to postoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen ratio after lobectomy for lung adenocarcinoma.

The CEA ratio may be a useful prognostic marker in patients who undergo lobectomy for lung adenocarcinoma and show postoperative CEA > 6.2 ng/ml. A high CEA ratio may indicate the presence of a subclinical residual tumor, which may lead to the development of subsequent recurrence.