Medullary Carcinoma and Thyrocalcitonin

Plasma human calcitonin (hCT) levels in normal and pathologic conditions, and their responses to short calcium or tetragastrin infusion.

“…This is an extremely sensitive indicator for the diagnosis of the disease as reported previously (Tubiana et al, 1968;Melvin et al, 1971;Deftos et al, 1972;Goltzman et al, 1974;Queener and Bell, 1975). Even after the total thyroidectomy, plasma hCT levels were high in 11 out of 16 operated cases, indicating the presence of metastases.…”

Chronic diarrhoea-all in the bowel?

“…13 Watery diarrhoea with or without steatorrhoea may occur either before the diagnosis of the primary tumour or during the course of the metastatic disease. 14 Calcitonin-induced secretory diarrhoea may be an important mechanism 15 that may be independent of cyclic adenosine monophosphate. 16 Other potential mediators of diarrhoea include prostaglandins, 17 calcitonin gene-related peptide, 18 serotonin, 19 histaminase, 20 kallikrein 17 and dopa-decarboxylase.…”

Pretargeted Radioimmunotherapy in the Treatment of Metastatic Medullary Thyroid Cancer

“…after surgery, many patients are cured, especially those with familial mtc, who are diagnosed early and without metastatic tumour spread. However, some patients show persistent disease after primary surgery, as shown by measurable serum calcitonin 1 .…”