Serum chromogranin A can be used to monitor a patient with a neuroendocrine tumor. If elevated it correlates with tumor load.
Neuroendocrine tumors that can be monitored with chromogranin A:
(1) islet cell tumors, carcinoid tumor or neuroendocrine carcinoma
(2) pheochromocytoma
(3) small cell undifferentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas
(4) parathyroid tumors
(5) pituitary tumors
(6) neuroblastomas
To be used as a biomarker it must:
(1) be elevated prior to therapy
(2) fall following therapy.
If tumor recurs or metastasizes then the serum chromogranin level should rise in parallel with the tumor burden.
Differential diagnosis – other conditions associated with an elevated serum chromogranin A level include:
(1) proton pump inhibitor therapy
(2) renal insufficiency
(3) liver disease
(4) inflammatory bowel disease
(5) atrophic gastritis
(6) stress
Specialty: Hematology Oncology, Surgery, general, Endocrinology
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