Pentagastrin test

The pentagastrin test is a calcitonin stimulation test that is used as a diagnostic method in endocrinology . By infusion of the synthetic oligopeptide pentagastrin , there is a stimulation of the release of in the parafollicular cells ( C cells ) of the thyroid formed calcitonin and thus to a measurable increase of the calcitonin concentration in the blood . With certain diseases of the thyroid gland, especially medullary thyroid carcinoma , a cancer of the parafollicular cells, the calcitonin concentration increases more than is the case in healthy people or in the context of other diseases.

In addition to the pentagastrin test, calcitonin stimulation can also be carried out with other substances such as calcium and omeprazole . These substances are rarely used for this purpose, for example when there is a contraindication for the use of pentagastrin, since the calcitonin stimulation and the sensitivity for detecting medullary thyroid cancer are lower than with pentagastrin. The pentagastrin test is currently (2015) no longer performed because pentagastrin is no longer available.

swell

• Pentagastrin test . Laborlexikon.de, e-journal for laboratory medicine, ISSN  1860-966X .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Vitale G et al .: Comparison of two provocative tests for calcitonin in medullary thyroid carcinoma: omeprazole vs pentagastrin Clin Chem. 2002 Sep; 48 (9): 1505-10. PMID 12194927

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !