The use of preoperative routine measurement of basal serum thyrocalcitonin in candidates for thyroidectomy due to nodular thyroid disorders: results from 2733 consecutive patients.

Context: The preoperative routine measurement of basal serum thyrocalcitonin (CT) in candidates for thyroidectomy due to thyroid nodules is currently a subject of debate.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of systematic basal serum CT measurement in improving the diagnosis and surgical treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in patients undergoing thyroidectomy for nodular thyroid disorders, regardless of preoperative CT levels.

Design: We determined basal serum CT levels in 2733 consecutive patients before thyroid surgery and performed a pentagastrin test in patients with hypercalcitoninemia.