TY - JOUR AU - Guesgen, Christoph AU - Willms, Arnulf AU - Zwad, Axel AU - Waldeck, Stephan AU - Wieler, Helmut AU - Schwab, Robert PY - 2013 DA - 2013/11/04 TI - Investigation of factors potentially influencing calcitonin levels in the screening and follow-up for medullary thyroid carcinoma: a cautionary note JO - BMC Clinical Pathology SP - 27 VL - 13 IS - 1 AB - The malignant transformation of thyroid C cells is associated with an increase in human calcitonin (hCT), which can thus be helpful in the early diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). For this reason, hCT levels should be determined in all patients with nodular goitre. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, nodular goitre and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy are factors reported to influence basal serum hCT concentrations. The diagnostic role of mildly to moderately increased hCT levels is thus a matter of debate. In this study, we attempt to clarify the role of the aforementioned factors. SN - 1472-6890 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6890-13-27 DO - 10.1186/1472-6890-13-27 ID - Guesgen2013 ER -