A Case of Bronchiectasis with High Serum CA19-9

An elevated serum CA19-9 level is an indication of pancreatic and biliary tract cancer. However, it has recently become known that nonmalignant gastrointestinal diseases and a variety of nonmalignant respiratory diseases, such as idiopathic interstial pneumonia, collagen vascular disease associated lung diseases, diffuse panbronchiolitis and bronchiectasis, can also show an elevated serum CA19-9 level. We recently encountered a case of bronchiectasis with persistently elevated serum CA19-9, but without any evidence of malignant disease in endoscopic retrograde pancreatocholangiography, abdominal computed tomography, and positron emission tomography. After serial follow-up of 3 years and 10 months, there was still no evidence of cancer. It is believed that the elevated serum CA19-9 level was due to bronchiectasis. An elevated serum CA19-9 level should be interpreted carefully with the patients' clinical condition.