Elevated circulating calcitonin concentration

What it means

Concentration of calcitonin, a 32-amino acid polypeptide hormone that is produced primarily by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid, in the blood circulation above the upper limit of normal.

Calcitonin is a 32-amino acid polypeptide hormone that is produced primarily by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid. It acts to reduce blood calcium (Ca2+), opposing the effects of parathyroid hormone.

Rare diseases that can present with this7

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category