Abstract
Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) was first described in 1959 by Hazard et al. as a solid thyroid neoplasm without follicular histologic features, but with a high degree of lymph node metastases. It is a neuroendocrine tumor of the thyroid, derived from the parafollicular cells or C-cells; these cells are responsible for the production of calcitonin, a sensitive and specific marker for MTC. They are considered part of the amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation system, and are found mostly in the upper and middle parts of the thyroid. Calcitonin is involved in calcium regulation and bone remodeling, but its exact role in humans is not clear. MTC can be found in both sporadic and hereditary forms. The familial association of MTC has been isolated to the ret proto-oncogene.
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Wang, T.S., Sosa, J.A., Roman, S.A. (2010). Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: Prognosis based on Stage of Disease and Age. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Methods of Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy, and Prognosis. Methods of Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy and Prognosis, vol 7. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3186-0_29
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