Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Medullary thyroid cancer laboratory findings
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of medullary thyroid cancer include decreased thyroid stimulating hormone, elevated calcitonin, and decreased calcium.
Laboratory Findings
Laboratory Findings
- Blood or imaging tests may be done prior to or in lieu of a biopsy. The following blood tests are conducted:
- Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
- Thyroxine (T4)
- Triiodothyronine (T3)
- Calcitonin- Calcitonin is required for the diagnosis and follow up of medullary thyroid cancer. It is an important tumor marker.
- Carcinoembryonic antigen
- Tests for serum thyroid autoantibodies are done to rule out autoimmune thyroid disease.
- Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 are tabulated below.
| Test | Findings |
|---|---|
| Metabolic | Decreased thyroid stimulating hormone Antithyroid antibodies Elevated calcitonin Decreased calcium |
| Adapted from Arzu Tatlıpınar1 and İlkay Kartal [Updated 2015].The Evaluation of Thyroid Nodules. Journal of Thyroid Disorders & Therapy.2015.[1] | |
References
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ammu Susheela, M.D. [2]