A normal value is less than 10 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL).

It is not uncommon to see different normal values for males and females. Sometimes, health care providers take a second or even a third calcitonin blood level after an intravenous (IV) infusion of calcium, especially when the health care worker suspects medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. This additional test is necessary if the baseline calcitonin value is normal.

NOTE: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

Higher than normal levels may indicate:

• Insulinoma
• Lung cancer
• Medullary carcinoma of thyroid
• VIPoma

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Calcitonin Overview

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Calcitonin Risks

Review Date: 11/25/2009
Reviewed By: Ari S. Eckman, MD, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)