Clinical evaluation of new assays for determination of serum calcitonin concentrations

1991 ◽  
Vol 124 (5) ◽  
pp. 540-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Weissel ◽  
H. Kainz ◽  
Eva Tyl ◽  
E. Ogunyemi ◽  
W. Woloszczuk

Abstract. In order to test the clinical usefulness of new commercially available kits for determination of calcitonin serum concentrations, we investigated the family (N=10) of a patient with medullary thyroid carcinoma and bilateral pheochromocytoma including his affected son, 10 athyreotic patients, totally thyroidectomized for non-medullary thyroid cancer, and 4 normal volunteers. Pentagastrin tests were performed in all subjects. Serum calcitonin levels before and after pentagastrin were determined by 4 kits. Kits A and B are immunoradiometric assays of the sandwich-type, kits C and D are radioimmunoassays, D being the one hitherto routinely used. Our results show that the new assays (kits A, B and C) have a better diagnostic accuracy in screening for medullary thyroid cancer than the RIA (kit D), hitherto used, where basal values overlapped with normals. Although basal values of normals were mostly near the detection limit of all 4 kits, kits A and B were sensitive enough to detect stimulation of calcitonin secretion by pentagastrin in all subjects with intact thyroid glands and kit C in most of them. The lack of increase in calcitonin after pentagastrin observed by kits A, B and C in athyreotic patients suggests deficiency of secretion of this hormone. Only kit D was unable to show this deficiency.

1978 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth L. Becker ◽  
Richard H. Snider ◽  
Omega L. Silva ◽  
Charles F. Moore

ABSTRACT An investigation was made of the increased serum calcitonin in patients with medullary thyroid cancer and bronchogenic carcinoma in order to determine whether these conditions can be differentiated immunochemically. Endogenous fractions of immunoreactive calcitonin were separated by gel filtration and radioimmunoassayed with calcitonin antibodies having different region specificities. The pattern of serum heterogeneity of patients with medullary thyroid cancer was characterized by the presence of at least seven different fractions of immunoreactive calcitonin, ranging from fraction I (≧ 30 000 molecular weight (MW)) to fraction V (~ 2500 MW). In contrast, most patients with bronchogenic cancer had a predominance of high MW fractions (i. e. fractions I and II A). Following in vitro incubation of the serum, the typical large MW pattern of bronchogenic cancer serum could be converted to the more diffuse pattern seen in the serum of medullary thyroid cancer. We were able to differentiate, pre-operatively, the hypercalcitonaemia serum of medullary thyroid cancer patients from that of bronchogenic cancer patients by determination of the ratio of calcitonin as radioimmunoassayed with midportion versus carboxyl terminal antibody.


2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 818-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catharina Ihre Lundgren ◽  
Leigh Delbridg ◽  
Diana Learoyd ◽  
Bruce Robinson

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) compromises 3-5% of all thyroid cancers and arises from parafollicular or calcitonin-producing C cells. It may be sporadic (75% of cases), or may occur as a manifestation of either the hereditary syndrome Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2A or MEN 2B) (25% of cases), or rarely as an isolated familial syndrome (FMTC). Complete surgical resection comprising in most cases total thyroidectomy with central lymph node dissection at an early stage of the disease is the only potential cure for MTC. The familial form of the disease, MEN-2A occupies a unique place in surgical history, having been the first disease where surgical removal of an affected organ was undertaken before the development of malignancy, solely on the basis of genetic testing. Total thyroidectomy prior to the development of invasive cancer completely avoids an otherwise lethal malignancy. Timing of prophylactic surgery is based on models that utilise genotype-phenotype correlations, which have now been stratified into three risk groups based on the specific codon involved. MTC should be followed with postoperative serial serum calcitonin levels to survey for persistent or recurrent disease as indicated by detectable levels. The challenge however, if calcitonin levels are increased, is to find the source of its production. The first localisation technique recommended would be ultrasound of the neck, since there is a high frequency of local recurrence and cervical node metastasis, followed by a total body CT scan and bone scintigraphy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 5-11
Author(s):  
Zoya S. Matveeva ◽  
Anatoliy F. Romanchishen ◽  
Alexandr V. Gostimsky ◽  
Kristina V. Vabalayte

The article presents results of diagnostics, surgical treatment and follow-up of patients with rare hereditary-conditioned forms of thyroid cancer – medullary thyroid carcinoma in content of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome. Particular attention is paid to the examination and tactics of treatment of children and adolescents with family genetically confirmed Sipple syndrome. The disease is diagnosed in 4 families. Syndrome of multiple endocrine neoplasia 2a type we found in 7 (0.024%) of 29,325 children and adult patients. All the children were from families in which one of the blood relatives suffered medullary thyroid cancer. The family nature of the disease was confirmed by molecular genetic studies that revealed mutations in C634 (T1900C) in the 11 exon of the RET gene. Only in 3 out of 7 cases thyroidectomy was prophylactic. Four children were fond foci of medullary carcinoma in the removed thyroid gland. In total, 22 operations were performed for the members of 4 families suffering from the family syndrome MEN-2a. The article shows that if a patient is diagnosed Sippl's syndrome, all his blood relatives need to be checked for the mutation of the RET gene to identify familial medullary thyroid cancer, adenomas of parathyroid glands and pheochromocytomas. Early removal of the thyroid gland (in children under the age of 5 years) prevents medullary cancer, and timely diagnosis and adequate surgical removal of neoplasms of parathyroid glands and adrenal glands ensure recovery of the patients. Closest relatives should be checked for the level of calcium and calcitonin, catecholamines, vanillylmandelic acid and metanephrine, ACTH, cancer-embryonic antigen.


Thyroid ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 599-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hee Kyung Kim ◽  
Woo Kyun Bae ◽  
Yoo Duk Choi ◽  
Hyun Jeong Shim ◽  
Jee Hee Yoon ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A1004-A1004
Author(s):  
Damilola Ashorobi ◽  
Kaushik Mandal ◽  
Huijuan Liao ◽  
Salini Chellappan Kumar

Abstract Introduction: Although rare, one of the most common inherited disorders is multiple endocrine neoplasia. It is an autosomal dominant disorder that predisposes individuals to certain endocrine abnormalities depending on which type. The type 2A is a combination of medullary thyroid cancer, hyperparathyroidism, and pheochromocytoma which have been explained to be due to a mutation in the RET proto-oncogene. This abstract present a case of a patient with hyperparathyroidism whom family members also have pheochromocytoma and papillary thyroid cancer. Case description: A 45 year-old Hispanic male came to the endocrinology clinic complaining of constipation and headache. He has a personal history of non-toxic multinodular goiter and underwent right sided thyroidectomy in 2015 with pathology report showing follicular adenoma. He is currently on thyroid replacement therapy. He is clinically and biochemically euthyroid with TSH of 2.29 IU/ml. Physical examination was unremarkable. His labs were pertinent for calcium 11.5mg/dl, parathyroid 245.7pg/ml, creatinine of 1.5mg/dl. Two years ago, parathyroid was 189.5pg/ml and calcium was 11mg/dl, 1.5 year ago parathyroid level was 235.5pg/ml, calcium was 11.4mg/dl, urine calcium 9.3mg/dl, 24hr urine calcium 286.4mg, calcitonin <2pg/ml, vitamin D 23ng/ml, 1,25 vitamin D 53ng/ml. In 2017, Sestambi scan showed equivocal focus of faint parathyroid activity in the region of the mid to lower left thyroid lobe versus faint residual thyroid activity and in 2019, scan showed no definite parathyroid adenoma. Surgical intervention was recently recommended due to patient’s DEXA scan showing osteoporosis of the femoral neck. The family history of this patient is pertinent for two sisters; one with pheochromocytoma and the other with papillary thyroid cancer. One of the sisters is a 60 years old diagnosed with pheochromocytoma at 51. Her free normetanephrine level was 682pg/ml and total metanephrine was 727pg/ml at time of diagnosis. Her MRI report showed right adrenal mass measuring 3.5x2.8cm. Laparoscopic right adrenalectomy was done and pathology confirmed pheochromocytoma which was RET negative. She still follows up with endocrinology and calcitonin, chromogranin A and plasma metanephrines have been normal. The second sister is now 53 years old diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer at age 27 and had total thyroidectomy with pathology confirming papillary thyroid cancer. Discussion: Based on the clinical presentation of these family members, the most likely explanation is familial inheritance. This pattern of inheritance cannot be explained by MEN 2A or 2B due to the absence of medullary thyroid cancer. It has also been reported that this unusual presentation could be a variant of MEN 2A.[i] Due to the family history, close follow up is required to monitor for the possible development of other endocrinopathies in the future.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 5842
Author(s):  
Jinyoung Kim ◽  
Jun Park ◽  
Hyunju Park ◽  
Min Sun Choi ◽  
Hye Won Jang ◽  
...  

The lymph node ratio (LNR) has been investigated as a prognostic factor in many different types of cancers, including differentiated thyroid cancer; however, reports regarding medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) are limited. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate LNR as a risk factor for structural recurrence in patients with MTC. Medical records of patients treated for MTC in a single tertiary center between 1995 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. LNR is defined as the number of metastatic lymph nodes or lymph node metastases (LNM) divided by the number of retrieved lymph nodes or lymph node yield (LNY). In the survival analysis, recurrence-free survival was defined as the time from the date of total thyroidectomy to recurrence or last follow-up. To identify risk factors influencing structural recurrence, univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used. A total of 132 patients were enrolled. The mean age of study participants was 49.7 years, and 86 patients (65%) were women. Structural recurrence was identified in 39 patients at the end of the study period, and the median follow-up period was 8.7 years. In univariable analyses, gross extra thyroidal extension, N stage, postoperative serum calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, and LNR were significant (p < 0.05) predictors of structural recurrence. In multivariable analysis, postoperative serum calcitonin, postoperative serum CEA, and LNR were identified as a predictor of disease-free survival (p < 0.05). LNR can potentially predict structural recurrence as a quantitative evaluation tool for lymph node metastasis in patients with MTC.


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