Calcitonin

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Stains & CD markers
Calcitonin

Author: Meenakshi Vij Gupta, M.D.

Last author update: 1 December 2015

Last staff update: 3 August 2023

Copyright: 2002-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed Search: Calcitonin

Table of Contents

Definition / general | Case reports | Uses by pathologists | Microscopic (histologic) images | Additional references

Cite this page: Gupta M. Calcitonin. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/stainscalcitonin.html. Accessed December 21st, 2024.

Definition / general

Calcitonin (thyrocalcitonin) is a 32 amino acid linear polypeptide hormone (molecular weight 3,421Kd) that participates in calcium and phosphorus metabolism
It is formed by the proteolytic cleavage of a larger pre-propeptide, which is a product of the CALC1 gene (CALC)
In humans, it is primarily produced by the parafollicular cells (C cells) of the thyroid
Other tissues such as the lungs and intestinal tract can also synthesize calcitonin
The calcitonin receptor protein has been shown to be a member of the seven transmembrane G protein coupled receptor family, which is coupled by G5 to adenylate cyclase and thereby to the generation of CAMP in target cells

Case reports

43 year old woman with medullary thyroid carcinoma, small cell variant (Acta Cytol 2010;54:911)
57 year old woman with mixed medullary - papillary carcinoma thyroid (J Lab Physicians 2014;6:133)
Prognostic value of calcitonin immunostaining in medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1984;59:850)
Diagnosis and management of medullary thyroid carcinoma (Diagn Cytopathol 2007;35:285)
Profiling of the calcitonin-calcitonin receptor axis in primary prostate cancer (Oncol Rep 2013;30:1265)
Hypercalcitoninemia in a patient with a recurrent goiter and insulinoma (Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2006;114:217)

Uses by pathologists

As a marker for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), especially when facing histologic subtypes such as the follicular, papillary or encapsulated variants that can pose diagnostic difficulties with follicular cell–derived carcinomas and paraganglioma (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2008;132:359)
Although highly specific, calcitonin staining may be patchy in medullary carcinomas and 5% of these tumors may be negative for this marker
- In tumors with no staining and still suspected to be MTC, calcitonin and calcitonin gene–related peptide mRNA can be demonstrated by in situ hybridization (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2010;134:207)
To evaluate for C cell hyperplasia associated with familial MTC
- High grade neuroendocrine tumors can also stain with calcitonin, and metastatic lesions can be misinterpreted as having arisen in the thyroid (Adv Anat Pathol 2004;11:202)
Immunoreactive calcitonin along with calmodulin has been stained and quantitated in solitary endocrine cells which are increased in number and staining intensity in cystic fibrosis lung when compared to COPD and normal lungs
- The calcitonin and calmodulin may be associated with increased calcium in pulmonary secretions leading to selective colonization of the lung by a limited number of pathogenic bacteria and enhanced pulmonary infection (Chest 1986;89:327)

Microscopic (histologic) images

Contributed by Andrey Bychkov, M.D., Ph.D.