MEDULLARY-THYROID CARCINOMA - PROGNOSTIC FACTORS

Medullary thyroid carcinoma is an uncommon cancer of the thyroid gland . It comprises a neuroendocrine tumor of the calcitonin secreting cell s. Its level of aggressiveness lies between that of well-differentiate d and anaplastic thyroid malignancies. We have undertaken a retrospect ive study of 18 patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma to evaluate various parameters for their prognostic value. We looked at epidemiolo gic factors such as stage, age at onset, sex and the heredity of the d isease. In addition various immunohistochemical stains were looked at including Leu-M1, calcitonin, thyroglobulin, somatostatin, carcinoembr yonic antigen, neuron specific enolase and BRST-1. Finally, DNA ploidy was determined using the flow cytometer. Stage, age at onset, DNA plo idy and staining for BRST-1 were found to be significant factors in de termining outcome of this disease.