Fact 4: MTC’s Relationship with Calcitonin
Calcitonin is a hormone, and in the case of MTC, it is a key player. As we have already learned, MTC arises from parafollicular C cells in the thyroid gland, which are responsible for producing calcitonin. When these cells become cancerous, they overproduce calcitonin, which can lead to specific symptoms and serve as a marker for the disease.
The relationship between MTC and calcitonin is indeed intricate. Not only does calcitonin overproduction contribute to symptoms such as flushing and diarrhea, but elevated levels of calcitonin in the blood can also indicate MTC. Hence, measuring calcitonin levels becomes a significant part of diagnosing and monitoring MTC. It’s an example of how a disease’s unique biological mechanism can be used to its own detection and management.
Calcitonin’s utility doesn’t stop there. It’s also utilized in prognostication, where higher levels might suggest a more advanced disease or a larger tumor burden. Thus, calcitonin in MTC is not just a byproduct of the disease process, but a crucial aspect of its clinical management. (4)
