Medullary thyroid cancer laboratory findings

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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]

Overview

Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of medullary thyroid cancer include decreased thyroid stimulating hormone, elevated calcitonin, and decreased calcium.

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)
• Thyroid hormones 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 sometimes done to rule out autoimmune thyroid disease (which can mimic nodular disease).
• Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 are tabulated below.

Laboratory findings

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.

Laboratory tests Normal Range Abnormal value Serum Thyroid stimulating hormone 0.4 - 4.0 milli-international units per liter <0.4 or >4.0 Antithyroid antibodies <35 IU/mL >35 IU/mL Serum calcitonin less than 10pg/mL >=100 pg/mL References