Screening for medullary cancer of the thyroid in France.
Screening of medullary cancer of the thyroid (MCT) in France relies on a collaborative work since 1982. The diagnosis of the index case relies on the detection of calcitonin in the tumor as well as on assay of circulating CT. A common protocol is used for patients and families. The familial screening is systematically carried out, even in apparently sporadic MCTs. A pentagastrin CT stimulation test is asked for all family members, whatever the age. All the data are collected by regional coordinators and centralized in a national register. Until 1987, 1031 MCT cases have been recorded, including 226 familial cases belonging to 62 families (29 MCT only, 29 MEN IIa and 4 MEN IIb).
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INSERM U. 113, Paris, France.
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D005602:France; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics