Routine Measurement of Serum Calcitonin is Useful for Early Detection of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma in Patients with Nodular Thyroid Diseases

Abstract

These results suggested that routine measurement of serum calcitonin is useful in the early detection of MTC among patients with nodular thyroid diseases. Pentagastrin stimulation test may also be a reliable way for evaluating thyroid nodular patients with mild or moderate elevation of serum calcitonin concentrations. However, FNAC was not sensitive in detecting MTC. We recommend routine measurement of serum calcitonin concentration in patients with nodular thyroid diseases.

Management Guidelines for Patients with Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: The American Thyroid Association Guidelines Taskforce

“…Routine measurement of serum thyroglobulin for initial evaluation of thyroid nodules is not recommended-Recommendation F Serum calcitonin measurement. The utility of serum calcitonin has been evaluated in a series of prospective, nonrandomized studies (24)(25)(26). The data suggest that the use of routine serum calcitonin for screening may detect C-cell hyperplasia and medullary thyroid cancer at an earlier stage FIG.…”

Reference range of serum calcitonin levels in humans: influence of calcitonin assays, sex, age, and cigarette smoking

“…It occurs in 5-10% of thyroid tumors (1) and has a prevalence of between 0.3 and 1.37% in nodular thyroid disease (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). Calcitonin (C T ) is a marker for both initial diagnosis and monitoring of patients with residual or recurrent MTC (10,11).…”

“…Serum C T assays are indicated in nodular thyroid patients if there is a family history of MTC, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, or non-defined thyroid cancer (1). In Europe, several researchers have recommended the systematic use of serum C T assays in all nodular thyroid patients, in order to identify sporadic MTC as early as possible (2)(3)(4)(5)(7)(8)(9), optimize surgical treatment (12), and obtain better survival (13).…”

“…The prevalence of hypercalcitoninemia not due to MTC varies from 0.3 to 4.5% (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). The assay's high cost and lack of specificity (25) has dissuaded health authorities in the USA from adopting systematic testing (1,26).…”

Histopathological and molecular studies in patients with goiter and hypercalcitoninemia: reactive or neoplastic C-cell hyperplasia?

“…However, a significant increase in early diagnoses has followed the introduction of the routine measurement of calcitonin (CT) levels in patients presenting with thyroid nodules. Indeed, many reports have shown than the routine CT measurement has a specificity and sensitivity higher than the fine needle aspiration cytology and leads to the detection of MTC in about 0.4-0.5% of the patients (Pacini et al 1994, Rieu et al 1995, Vierhapper et al 1997, Ozgen et al 1999, Hahm et al 2001, Elisei et al 2004, Karanikas et al 2004. The main pitfall related to this screening is the correct interpretation of borderline cases.…”