Lack of elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen and calcitonin in medullary thyroid carcinoma

TY - JOUR

T1 - Lack of elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen and calcitonin in medullary thyroid carcinoma

AU - Bockhorn, Maximilian

AU - Frilling, Andreja

AU - Rewerk, Stephan

AU - Liedke, Marc

AU - Dirsch, Olaf

AU - Schmid, Kurt W

AU - Broelsch, Christoph E

PY - 2004/6/1

Y1 - 2004/6/1

N2 - OBJECTIVE: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) originates from C-cells. A wide variety of tumor markers including calcitonin (CT), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and chromogranin A are produced by MTC. Surgery remains the only potentially curative therapy, and early detection of the primary remains the most important prognostic factor for a positive outcome for the patient. The following case concerns a 50-year-old woman with histologically proven MTC, who completely lacked serum elevation of both CT and CEA.METHODS: We performed a total thyroidectomy with lymphadenectomy in the central compartment. Histologic sections were stained for CT, CEA, and chromogranin A. Additionally we examined the patient's blood for mutations in the RET proto-oncogene.RESULTS: Serum CT and CEA were below the detection level in the serum. The tumor showed weak staining for CT, but strong staining for CEA and chromogranin A. Sequencing of the RET-proto-oncogene revealed no mutations. Five years after the operation, the patient remains well and shows no signs of tumor recurrence.CONCLUSIONS: We hereby report of a patient with neither plasma elevation of CT nor CEA. From the clinical standpoint, it is important to determine how this subgroup of MTC should be followed because CT and CEA are of no clinical use.

AB - OBJECTIVE: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) originates from C-cells. A wide variety of tumor markers including calcitonin (CT), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and chromogranin A are produced by MTC. Surgery remains the only potentially curative therapy, and early detection of the primary remains the most important prognostic factor for a positive outcome for the patient. The following case concerns a 50-year-old woman with histologically proven MTC, who completely lacked serum elevation of both CT and CEA.METHODS: We performed a total thyroidectomy with lymphadenectomy in the central compartment. Histologic sections were stained for CT, CEA, and chromogranin A. Additionally we examined the patient's blood for mutations in the RET proto-oncogene.RESULTS: Serum CT and CEA were below the detection level in the serum. The tumor showed weak staining for CT, but strong staining for CEA and chromogranin A. Sequencing of the RET-proto-oncogene revealed no mutations. Five years after the operation, the patient remains well and shows no signs of tumor recurrence.CONCLUSIONS: We hereby report of a patient with neither plasma elevation of CT nor CEA. From the clinical standpoint, it is important to determine how this subgroup of MTC should be followed because CT and CEA are of no clinical use.

KW - Calcitonin

KW - Carcinoembryonic Antigen

KW - Carcinoma, Medullary

KW - Chromogranin A

KW - Chromogranins

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Immunohistochemistry

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Thyroid Neoplasms

U2 - 10.1089/105072504323150813

DO - 10.1089/105072504323150813

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 15242577

VL - 14

SP - 468

EP - 470

JO - THYROID

JF - THYROID

SN - 1050-7256

IS - 6

ER -