October - December 2019, Volume 15, Issue 4

Danila R, Livadariu R, Branisteanu D

Calcitonin Revisited in 2020

Acta Endo (Buc) 2019, 15 (4): 544-548
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2019.544

Calcitonin (CT) is a polypeptidic hormone specifically secreted by the thyroid parafollicular cells (C cells) and tangentially involved in human phosphocalcic and bone metabolism. CT from other species (e.g. salmon) is more potent than human CT and has limited therapeutic applications. The neoplastic proliferation of C cells leads to medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) generally characterized by an increase of CT secretion. Serum CT is therefore the ideal marker for MTC and can confirm its presence at an early stage, as well as the follow up of its remission or progression/relapse/survival after surgery. There are, however, controversies such as the necessity of CT screening in patients with thyroid nodules, or particular situations causing false positive or false negative results. Our minireview also deals with an up-to-date of surgical procedures for MTC, as well as with non-surgical therapy.

Keywords: calcitonin, thyroid, medullary carcinoma, therapy.

Correspondence: Roxana Livadariu MD, “Grigore T Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Surgery, 16 Universitatii St., 700115 Ia?i, România, E-mail: roxanalivadariu@yahoo.com