[Detection of remnants after removal of medullary thyroid carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether calcium stimulation test or somatostain-receptor (SS-R) imaging could early detect remnants after removal of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).


METHODS
Calcitonin stimulation (calcium element 3 mg/kg weight, i.v. 10 min), carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), gastrin (GST) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were tested in 14 patients with postoperative MTC. SS-R imaging was used to localize the remnants after removal of MTC in patients with elevated calcitonin.


RESULTS
Calcitonin stimulation test showed that the peak value of serum calcitonin was elevated in all patients, of whom 7 had the elevated vatue of basic calcitonin and peak calcitonin. In the 7 patients, SS-R imaging showed normal CEA, GST and VIP.


CONCLUSIONS
It is necessary for patients after removal of MTC to perform calcitonin stimulation test for detecting remnants early. SS-R imaging may be useful for localizing remnants and metastatic foci. CEA, GST and VIP are not significant in monitoring MTC after operation.
Zhang
J
J
Department of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Dai
W
W
Lian
X
X
Meng
X
X
Hu
Y
Y
Bai
Y
Y
Li
F
F
Zhang
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*
D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; D002116:Calcitonin