MEDULLARY THYROID CANCER

Course overview

MEDULLARY THYROID CANCER (MTC) IS A TUMOR ARISING FROM THE PARAFOLLICULAR CELLS, OR C CELLS, OF THE THYROID GLAND. MEDULLARY THYROID CANCER PRODUCES CALCITONIN, AND ELEVATED CALCITONIN LEVELS ARE AN ESSENTIAL FEATURE OF THIS TUMOR. RECENT ADVANCES IN MOLECULAR PATHOGENESIS AND GENETIC TESTING HAVE LED TO RISK STRATIFICATION OF THE PATIENTS AND IDENTIFICATION OF MOLECULAR TARGETS FOR THERAPY. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF MTC, ITS PRESENTATION, DIAGNOSIS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.