[High carcinoembryonic antigen level following cancer surgery: another way to detect thyroid medullary carcinoma].
BACKGROUND
Thyroid medullary carcinoma is usually detected in the presence of an isolated thyroid nodule or in the context of a family disease: familial thyroid medullary carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A.


METHODS
Here we report a third means of detection: an unexplained rise in carcinoembryonic antigen levels after cancer surgery. In each case, the carcinoembryonic antigen increase led to the assessment of the caicitonin plasma level and to a thyroid echography being performed. Thyroid medullary carcinoma was confirmed in every case after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Even though the association of thyroid follicular carcinoma with familial adenomatous polyposis is common, the association of thyroid medullary carcinoma with breast or colonic carcinoma remains exceptional and probably accidental. Due to the seriousness of the thyroid medullary carcinoma, it is mandatory to look for it in the event of an unexplained rise in the carcinoembryonic antigen level, by assessing the calcitonin plasma level.
Martinez
M
M
Service de médecine B, hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France.
Virally
M L
ML
Guillausseau-Scholer
C
C
Vincenot
M
M
Samuel-Lajeunesse
J
J
Mauvais-Jarvis
F
F
Kévorkian
J P
JP
Porokhov
B
B
Valleur
P
P
Guillausseau
P J
PJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018813:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a / Q000150:complications; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014463:Ultrasonography
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D002116:Calcitonin