title: Elevated basal calcitonin levels in a patient with a hurthle-cell carcinoma of the thyroid and neuroendocrine differentiation: report of a case.
abstract: A thyroid nodule with elevated plasma levels of calcitonin is usually suggestive of a medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC); however, thyroid and extrathyroid conditions have been reported with elevated plasma calcitonin levels in the absence of MTC. We report the case of a patient with a thyroid nodule and an elevated basal plasma calcitonin level of 315 pg/ml (normal value <100 pg/ml) who underwent a left hemithyroidectomy. Interestingly, histopathological examination revealed a Hurthle-cell carcinoma with positive neuroendocrine (NE) markers such as calcitonin and synapthophysin, but not with chromogranin staining. Thus, we discuss the phenomenon of non-NE tumors showing positivity for NE markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, Ctra. Cartagena s/n, El Palmar, Murcia, 30120, Spain.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Munitiz
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martinez-Barba
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riquelme
authors.forename: Jose Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piñero
authors.forename: Pascual
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parrilla
mesh_terms: D018249:Adenoma, Oxyphilic / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002116:Calcitonin