Download Calcitonin - Quest Diagnostics

Calcitonin
30742X
Clinical Use
• Diagnose and monitor medullary
thyroid carcinoma
Reference Range
Men
Women
pg/mL
≤10
≤5
Children
<6 mo*
6 mo-3 y*
3-17 y
≤41
≤14
≤6
*From Clin Chem. 2004;50:1828-1829.
• Medullary carcinoma of the
thyroid (1/3 have normal basal
levels and require provocative
test to reveal abnormal levels)
• Lung, breast, pancreatic cancer
(some patients)
• Pancreatitis
• Thyroiditis
• Renal failure
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
• Pernicious anemia
• Pregnancy (term)
• Newborn infants
Method
• Immunochemiluminometric assay
(ICMA)
• Analytical sensitivity: 2 pg/mL
• Thyroid agenesis
Specimen Requirements
1.0 mL frozen serum
0.5 mL minimum
No additive red top
Overnight fasting is preferred.
39
Alphabetical Test
Section
Clinical Background
Calcitonin is a 32-amino acid
polypeptide produced by parafollicular
or C cells in the thyroid. Secretion of
calcitonin is stimulated by calcium.
Calcitonin decreases osteoclastic bone
resorption, but the physiological role
in man is uncertain.
Calcitonin measurement is indicated
for the diagnosis and follow-up of
patients with medullary thyroid
carcinoma (MTC), the majority of
whom produce the hormone. Settings
in which the test is appropriate include
1) thyroid nodule in patients with
symptoms potentially attributable to
hypercalcitoninemia, 2) screening of
individuals in families with known or
suspected MTC or the multiple
endocrine neoplasia syndrome types
IIa or IIb, and 3) follow-up of patients
with known MTC. Screening family
members with normal basal calcitonin
levels should include additional
calcitonin measurements after
pentagastrin and/or calcium
stimulation (see Dynamic Tests).