Which type of thyroid cancer is known to produce calcitonin?

Medullary thyroid carcinoma is the type of thyroid cancer known to produce calcitonin. This specific cancer arises from the parafollicular cells, also known as C cells, in the thyroid gland. These cells are responsible for synthesizing calcitonin, a hormone that plays a role in calcium homeostasis by lowering blood calcium levels.

Understanding medullary thyroid carcinoma's association with calcitonin is essential because elevated levels of this hormone can serve as a valuable biomarker for diagnosis and monitoring of this particular type of thyroid cancer. In clinical practice, measuring calcitonin levels helps in identifying medullary thyroid carcinoma and assessing treatment responses.

In contrast, the other types of thyroid cancer do not produce calcitonin. For instance, follicular and papillary thyroid carcinomas, which are derived from the follicular cells of the thyroid gland, have different behaviors and do not secrete calcitonin. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, known for being aggressive and poorly differentiated, also does not produce calcitonin and primarily originates from differentiated thyroid cells. Hence, medullary thyroid carcinoma is uniquely identified by the presence of calcitonin production, emphasizing its distinction from other thyroid cancers.