Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2011) 26 P480

ECE2011 Poster Presentations Thyroid cancer (43 abstracts)

Comparison of calcitonin stimulation tests with pentagastrin (Pg) and high-dose calcium in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)

Aldona Kowalska , Iwona Palyga , Danuta Gasior-Perczak , Anna Sluszniak & Stanislaw Gozdz


Holycross Cancer Centre, Kielce, Poland.


Introduction: The Pg calcitonin stimulation test is widely used in monitoring patients with MTC. In view of accessibility problems of Pg it is necessary to use high doses of calcium as the calcitonin stimulant.

Objective: The aim of the study was the comparison of calcitonin concentrations after Pg and calcium stimulation, respectively.

Materials: The study was performed in 31 patients under observation after deemed surgically cured of MTC.

Method: In patients calcitonin secretion stimulation tests were performed first with Pg, and after 6 months with high-dose calcium. Recorded data were analyzed.

Results: i) Baseline calcitonin concentration using Pg was 6,187 (±1,0468), and using calcium was 6,389 (±1,3148).

ii) Pg stimulated calcitonin concentration

• Mean calcitonin concentration after 3 min was 7,217 (±3,2741).

• Mean calcitonin concentration after 5 min was 6.992 (±2,4282). No statistically significant increase in calcitonin concentration was found after Pg.

iii) Calcium stimulated calcitonin concentration

• Mean calcitonin concentration after 3 min was 9,247 (±10,4396).

• Mean calcitonin concentration after 5 min was 8,122 (±7,7745). No statistically significant increase in calcitonin concentration was found after calcium.

iv) Comparison of calcitonin concentrations stimulated with Pg and calcium. No statistically significant difference was observed at 3 and 5 min between Pg and calcium stimulation of calcitonin.

Conclusions: Calcitonin stimulation tests with Pg and calcium were comparable in patients with deemed surgically cured MTC.

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