Radioimmunoassay of human calcitonin in serum and tissue from healthy individuals and patients with medullary carcinoma of the thyroid gland.
A specific radioimmunological method for measurement of immunoreactive calcitonin (iCT) in human serum and tissue is decribed. Of healthy individuals of both sexes, 85% had measurable iCT in serum (mean, 0.23 ng/ml). Of  29 patients who had received treatment for medullary carcinoma of the thyroid gland (MCT), 19 had increased serum iCT (0.60 ng/ml to 205 ng/ml). Elevated serum iCT was also found preoperatively in 2 MCT patients. Eleven of the patients with abnormal elevations of serum iCT were alive 4 to 13 years after the operation. Concentration of iCT in extracts from MCT varied from 0.5 to 540 ng/ml wet weight. The diagnostic value of this method and its importance for pre- and post-operative evaluation of these patients are improved by the use of selective venous catheterization in basal state and during stimulation of CT secretion.
D000328:Adult; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000032:analysis*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy
D002116:Calcitonin