Ectopic calcitonin secretion in a woman with large cell neuroendocrine lung carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Serum calcitonin (CT) is a sensitive but not specific marker for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). There are a large number of conditions that may elevate CT levels.


METHODS
Herein we present the case of a 47-year old woman with Hashimoto thyroiditis, goiter, cervical lymphadenopathy and high CT and CEA levels. After surgical extirpation of the lymph node neuroendocrine cancer metastasis was suspected. Computed tomography of the chest showed a tumor mass on the right lung. Bronchoscopy was performed and pathological and immunohistochemical analysis revealed large cell neuroendocrine lung cancer (LCNEC). After chemotherapy, significant reduction of tumor mass was achieved with a moderate decrease in CT levels in parallel.


CONCLUSIONS
We present a female with LCNEC, a condition which is usually observed in older men (7(th) decade) and is not associated with CT secretion. Hashimoto thyroiditis is associated with increased incidence of different types of cancers (e.g. thyroid, colon). No reports at present exist on the incidence of lung cancers in patients with thyroid disease.
Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
Goran
G
Cvijovic
Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
Dragan
D
Micic
Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
Aleksandra
A
Kendereski
Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia.
Svetlana
S
Zoric
Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
Mirjana
M
Sumarac-Dumanovic
Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
Svetislav
S
Tatic
Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, Institute for Otorhynolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia.
Aleksandar
A
Trivic
Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia.
Danica
D
Pejkovic-Stamenkovic
Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia.
Danka
D
Jeremic
D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D018287:Carcinoma, Large Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006729:Hormones, Ectopic; D002116:Calcitonin