Use

Calcitonin is a hormone that is primarily produced by the C cells in the thyroid gland. It helps regulate calcium levels in the body and can be a valuable biomarker in the evaluation of patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). This test is used to measure calcitonin levels across multiple time points to assess baseline and stimulated levels, which are crucial for diagnosing MTC as stimulated levels often exhibit a marked increase. This panel is part of a dynamic testing protocol used to better elucidate calcitonin levels under specific conditions, such as pharmacological stimulation, which provides insight into the patient's endocrine function and tumor activity.