title: Ultrasound diagnosis of C-cell carcinoma of the thyroid.
abstract: Ultrasound screening in 9 and 21 members, respectively, of two families affected by familial C-cell carcinoma, as well as sonographic findings in 6 patients with sporadic medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (MCT), are reported. Unilateral and bilateral tumor nodules were identified by sonography in 12 of a total of 13 patients with MCT (n = 9) or local tumor recurrence following thyroidectomy (n = 4); one carcinoma, 3 X 6 mm in diameter, was missed. Nine of the 12 (75%) were clinically occult, nonpalpable C-cell carcinomas. The smallest occult MCT correctly diagnosed by ultrasound had a diameter of 4 mm. A positive correlation was found between the sonographically determined tumor mass (number/size of nodules/metastases) and the plasma calcitonin level. Pheochromocytomas were diagnosed by ultrasound as part of a multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN IIa) in two patients with MCT. The echomorphologic findings of the intrathyroid C-cell carcinomas and their metastases display characteristic but nonspecific features. Sonographic findings on these tumors should therefore not be interpreted without consideration of plasma calcitonin assays.
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Schwerk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grün
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wahl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009377:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010375:Pedigree; D010418:Pentagastrin; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D002116:Calcitonin; D010418:Pentagastrin