Impact of Routine Measurement of Serum Calcitonin on the Diagnosis and Outcome of Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Experience in 10,864 Patients with Nodular Thyroid Disorders

• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2003-030550
• Publication Date: 2004-01-09T20:32:57Z
• Authors: Rossella Elisei; Valeria Bottici; Fabiana Luchetti; Giancarlo Di Coscio; Cristina Romei; Lucia Grasso; Paolo Miccoli; Pietro Iacconi; Fulvio Basolo; Aldo Pinchera; Furio Pacini
• Keywords: Thyroid Nodules; Medullary Thyroid Cancer

The survival rate of patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is significantly better in diagnosed and treated when the tumor limited to thyroid. In a pioneer study carried out 1991, we demonstrated that routine measurement serum calcitonin (CT) nodular disease allowed preoperative diagnosis unsuspected sporadic MTC accuracy than fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). This finding has been confirmed subsequent studies. present report results CT screening 10,864 seen years 1991–1998 (group 1). We analyzed prevalence compared their outcomes those historical group 2) before introduction (1970–1990). found by 1 was 0.40% (44 patients). A positive test had higher diagnostic sensitivity specificity FNAC. at an earlier stage 2 (P = 0.004). Normalization levels (undetectable) after surgery more frequently observed 1. At end follow-up, complete remission 59% 2.7% 0.0001). Our confirms not infrequent among nodules (nearly 250 addition, allows treatment stage, resulting outcome detected measurement. One reasons for this increasing prompts surgeon perform radical possibly curative treatment. On basis, basal should be considered integral part evaluation nodules.