Sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma associated with toxic multinodular goitre.
First described in 1959, medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) arises from parafollicular C cells distributed throughout the thyroid, and may occur in one of two clinical forms, sporadic (80%) or familial. Familial MTC may present as a palpable thyroid nodule, but may also be diagnosed by screening relatives of an index case for a raised basal serum calcitonin or a rise in calcitonin following a stimulated pentagastric test. Both tests are highly sensitive for C-cell hyperplasia and MTC. Sporadic cases of MTC most commonly present as asymptomatic thyroid nodules with normal thyroid function tests. In this note, the history of a patient is presented in which a sporadic MTC was associated with goitre and both symptoms and biochemical evidence of thyrotoxicosis.
Small
P K
PK
Department of Surgery, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK.
Smith
D
D
D000328:Adult; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008297:Male; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000473:pathology; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000150:complications*
D002116:Calcitonin