title: Calcium stimulated calcitonin measurement: a procedural proposal.
abstract: Human calcitonin (hCT) is a tumor marker essential to the diagnosis and follow-up of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Current consensus recommends hCT measurement when initially evaluating thyroid nodules; if slightly elevated, a confirmatory stimulated calcitonin test is commonly performed, usually using pentagastrin. In recent years the supply of pentagastrin was not guaranteed with long periods of unavailability; the outlook for future availability is unknown. Therefore it is desirable for many institutions to establish a procedure for calcitonin stimulation using a stimulant with a secure supply; stimulation of calcitonin using calcium represents the easiest alternative.Several schemes and dosages have been used in the past for calcium stimulated calcitonin measurement. In this paper we propose a procedure for calcium stimulated calcitonin measurement based on our experiences. Furthermore we will briefly point out the limitations of this method with regard to available data in literature.
authors: Departments of Nuclear Medicine, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. fverburg@ukaachen.de
authors: F A
authors: FA
authors: Verburg
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Reiners
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Grelle
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Barth
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fassnacht
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Luster
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; D006801:Humans; D010418:Pentagastrin / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002116:Calcitonin; D010418:Pentagastrin; D002118:Calcium