Medullary thyroid cancer

Medullary thyroid cancer is derived from parafollicular C-cells thyroid gland. In four clinical forms:
 * sporadic (70–80 % of carcinomas, most aggressive)
 * familial (AD heritance)
 * MEN 2A and MEN 2B (together with pheochromocytoma, neurofibroma, parathyroid gland adenoma,...)

Clinical picture + diagnostics

 * Similar to differentiated thyroid cancer,
 * secrets calcitonin (tumor marker),
 * is more aggressive than differentiated carcinoma, at the time of diagnosis metastasis are in more than 50% of cases,
 * in medullary thyroid carcinoma in connection with MEN 2A and MEN 2B, vanillic acid is measured,
 * 50% of medullary carcinomas produces CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen).

Therapy
Totální thyreoidektomie, zevní ozáření (C buňky neakumulují jód), chemoterapie. Total thyroidectomy, external radiation (C cells do not accumulate iodine), chemotherapy.

Prognosis
Despite the aggressiveness, prognosis is favorable - 75% of patients survive 15 years.

Related articles

 * Thyroid tumors
 * Differentiated thyroid cancer
 * Anaplastic thyroid cancer