[Plasma calcitonin and breast tumors].

In order to evaluate the frequency of elevated circulating calcitonin in patients with bone metastasis plasma calcitonin level was measured in 32 patients with breast carcinoma with and without bone metastasis. Calcitonin was found in normal ranges in all patients without metastasis. In patients with bone metastasis, 4 had normal level, 2 were found with elevated calcitonin. Our results suggest that elevated calcitonin is related to the presence of bone metastasis but is not a constant finding in these patients.