Calcitonin Test

This test is advised to patients who show symptoms of medullary thyroid cancer, such as swollen lymph nodes in the neck or lumps in the front of the neck. It is also used as a screening test in individuals with a family history of medullary thyroid cancer. Calcitonin test helps in identifying the level of risk in such individuals so necessary steps can be taken to prevent the condition. 

Furthermore, this test is useful for determining the progression of medullary thyroid cancer and is helpful in monitoring the effectiveness of anti-cancer therapy in individuals who are being treated for this cancer.

You will be asked to stop eating and drinking the night before this test. Ask your doctor if it is okay to drink water. 

Inform your doctor if you are taking any medicines, including herbs, vitamins and supplements since certain medications may interfere with test results. Also, let him/her know if you are pregnant.

For a calcitonin test, a doctor or laboratory technician will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm by inserting a needle. You may feel slight pain as the needle goes in but it will subside soon after the test. The withdrawn sample will be collected in an appropriate container - a vial or a test tube - and sent to a laboratory for further analysis.

Some people feel lightheaded after the test and get a bruise at the injection site, though, both of these are temporary and subside on their own. If the discomfort persists, check in with your doctor at the earliest.

Results of the calcitonin test vary based on age and gender. Many other factors, such as clinical history and method employed for the test may also affect the results.

Normal results:

Calcitonin hormone is measured in picograms per millilitre (pg/mL). The normal levels of calcitonin are ≤19 pg/mL for men and ≤14 pg/mL for women.

Abnormal results:

Higher than normal levels of calcitonin indicate the following:

• Medullary thyroid cancer
• Current therapy for medullary thyroid cancer is not working. If the treatment for medullary thyroid cancer is successful, calcitonin will drop to low levels and remain low over time. If, however, calcitonin levels are high, the doctor may order other tests, such as a thyroid scan and/or biopsy, to confirm the diagnosis.
• Relapse of medullary thyroid cancer
• Breast cancer, lung cancer or pancreatic cancer 

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.