Pentagastrin-stimulated calcitonin test

The test is a calcitonin pentagastrin stimulation test, which is used as a diagnostic method in endocrinology. By infusion of the oligopeptide synthetic pentagastrin, there is a stimulation of the release of in the parafollicular cells (C cells) of the thyroid calcitonin formed and thus to a measurable increase of the calcitonin concentration in the blood. In certain thyroid diseases, especially in the medullary thyroid carcinoma, cancer of the parafollicular cells, there is a greater increase of the calcitonin concentration, as is the case in healthy subjects or in other diseases.

Next to the pentagastrin - test may be performed a calcitonin stimulation with other substances, such as calcium and omeprazole. These substances are for this purpose, however, rarely used, such as when a contraindication for the use of pentagastrin is because the sensitivity and the stimulation of calcitonin are less for the detection of medullary thyroid carcinoma, as with pentagastrin.

Swell

• Laboratory lexicon - journal of Laboratory Medicine: pentagastrin. ISSN 1860 - 966x (online version: Call on February 13, 2008)