Vol 62, No 4 (2003)
Short communication
Published online: 2003-09-05
Activity of the thyroid parafollicular (C) cells in simple and hyperactive nodular goitre treated surgically - preliminary investigations
Folia Morphol 2003;62(4):443-445.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of measuring calcitonin
(CT) plasma concentrations in patients with simple and hyperthyroid goitre treated
surgically. Eighty four patients who underwent operations during the years 2000-2002 were analysed. Plasma concentrations of CT were determined by commercially
available radioimmunoassay on the day of hospitalisation. Elevated concentrations
of CT were found in 8 patients: in 5 out of 26 (19.2%) and in 3 out
of 33 (9.0%) patients with Graves’ disease and with multinodular goitre, respectively.
No major differences in concentrations of CT were observed in patients
with simple goitre. Postoperative morphological analysis of pathologically changed
hyperactive thyroids showed the presence of enlarged C cells distributed either
in small groups or even singly with weakening immunohistochemical reaction
for CT. These observations may point to the possibility of a relationship between
the functional state of the thyroid gland and the activity of C cells.
Keywords: C cellscalcitoninhyperthyroidismnodular goitre