Calcitonin

Determination of calcitonin is used as an aid in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid and parathyroid diseases, including carcinoma and hyperparathyroidism, along with other clinical and laboratory data. This indicator is one of the best indicators for monitoring the treatment of medullary thyroid cancer. This form of cancer is not very common. Calcitonin is a peptide hormone secreted by C-cells in the thyroid gland. Blood calcitonin levels correlate well with the size and growth rate of medullary thyroid cancer. If the cancerous tissue is successfully removed, if there are no metastases, then the concentration of calcitonin in the blood decreases quickly. Therefore, determination of calcitonin concentration in the postoperative period is ideal for finding recurrences and metastases.