The CRP and PCT levels were higher in benign PE than they were in malignant PE (PCT: P=0.017, P=0.032; CRP: P=0.001, P<0.001, respectively), while CEA levels were lower in benign PE than in malignant PE (CEA: P=0.001, P=0.001, respectively).
Previous research revealed that CEA level in pleural effusion correlates to serum CEA and is significantly higher in adenocarcinoma of the lung than in other lung cancer entities.