5 Questions
What type of hormone is inappropriately produced by a tumor of the adrenal medulla?
Catecholamine
Which of the following is an example of ectopic hormone production?
Production of PTH-like hormone by malignant tumors
Which tumor is associated with the inappropriate production of calcitonin?
Medullary thyroid carcinoma
What is the clinical relevance of ectopic hormone production by tumor cells?
Low specificity
Which of the following factors determine the type of hormone produced by a pituitary gland tumor?
Type of cell affected in the pituitary gland
Study Notes
Hormones as Tumor Markers
- Hormones can serve as tumor markers in two ways:
Inappropriate Production by Endocrine Gland Tumor
- Pituitary gland tumors can produce excess pituitary hormones, depending on the affected cell type.
- Adrenal medulla tumors (Pheochromocytoma) produce excessive catecholamine.
- Medullary thyroid carcinoma produces excessive calcitonin, specifically in parafollicular C cells.
Ectopic Hormone Production
- Tumor cells can produce abnormal levels of hormones or hormone-like substances not typically produced by the extraendocrine system.
- This type of production has limited clinical relevance due to its lack of specificity.
- Example: Malignant tumors may produce PTH-like hormones.
Learn how hormones can be tumor markers in endocrine gland tumors, including pituitary gland tumors, adrenal medulla tumors, and medullary thyroid carcinoma. Understand the inappropriate production of hormones in these tumors.
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