What do the results mean?If your calcitonin levels were high, it may mean you have C-cell hyperplasia or medullary thyroid cancer. If you are already being treated for this thyroid cancer, high levels may mean the treatment is not working or that cancer has returned after treatment. Other types of cancer, including cancers of the breast, lung, and pancreas, can also cause high levels of calcitonin.If your levels were high, you will probably need more tests before your health care provider can make a diagnosis. These tests may include a thyroid scan and/or a biopsy. A thyroid scan is an imaging test that uses sound waves to look at the thyroid gland. A biopsy is a procedure where a health care provider removes a small piece of tissue or cells for testing.If your calcitonin levels were low, it may mean your cancer treatment is working, or you are cancer free after treatment.Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
