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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2012; 120(04): 234-237
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1291344
Article
© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Medullary Thyroid Nodules by Measurement of Calcitonin (Ct) in Aspiration Needle Washout in Patients with Multinodular Goiter and Moderately Elevated Serum Ct

P. Trimboli
1   Section of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Ospedale Israelitico, Rome, Italy
,
G. Nigri
2   Sapienza University 2nd School of Medicine ,Ospedale S. Andrea, Rome, Italy
,
F. Romanelli
3   Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
,
D. D. Cicciarella Modica
4   Section of Pathology, Ospedale Israelitico, Rome, Italy
,
A. Crescenzi
4   Section of Pathology, Ospedale Israelitico, Rome, Italy
,
S. Valabrega
2   Sapienza University 2nd School of Medicine ,Ospedale S. Andrea, Rome, Italy
,
L. Giovanella
5   Department of Nuclear Medicine and Thyroid Centre, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 15 July 2011
first decision 15 July 2011

accepted 18 October 2011

Publication Date:
10 February 2012 (online)

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Abstract

The accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is low in medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC). Recently, a few papers analyzed the measurement of calcitonin (Ct) in washout of the needle after aspiration (WO-Ct) suggesting that this approach may be useful in patients with high serum Ct.

Here we reported, for the first time in our best knowledge, 3 patients with multinodular goiter, moderately elevated serum Ct, high value of WO-Ct, and medullary outcome. These findings suggest that in presence of high serum Ct, FNAC should be performed in all nodules, and it should be combined with WO-Ct in all cases.

Key words

medullary thyroid carcinoma - calcitonin - washout measurement - fine needle aspiration
 

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