Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2: diagnostic challenges of a medullary thyroid carcinoma nodule

摘要

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is rare, constituting 1-2% of thyroid carcinomas. Calcitonin (Ctn) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are valuable tumour markers in MTC; Ctn in particular is useful for screening. When there is a suspicion of MTC on cytology, immuno-histochemistry of the specimen, Ctn measurement of the aspirate and serum are utilised. Currently there is no international consensus on measuring Ctn levels routinely in patients with thyroid nodules; although it is the standard practice in many European countries, it is considered controversial in the United States of America.