Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma is a rare thyroid tumor originating from
neural crest cells, the C-cell that implies several special features,
secretion of different neuroendocrine markers, association with other
endocrine tumors and familial appearance. The familial variant of
medullary thyroid carcinoma allows an early detection by biochemical and
genetic testing. At that stage acceptable surgical treatment will cure
the patient. The sporadic form of medullary thyroid carcinoma will be
diagnosed in a progressive stage, but adequate surgical procedure can
cure these patients too. Long term survival depends on stage, age, sex,
and variant of the disease and seems to be as good as in other
differentiated thyroid cancers.