The diagnosis of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (author's transl)

The pentagastrin stimulation test was given to ten brothers and sisters of two patients who had previously undergone total thyroidectomy for medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. 5 microng pentagastrin/kg body-weight were injected as an intravenous bolus and calcitonin levels determined before and after. The test was positive in four members of the family and the presence of a medullary carcinoma was subsequently confirmed in them histologically.