Stimulation of thyrocalcitonin secretion by ethanol in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma--an effect apparently not mediated by gastrin.

We have compared the effects of oral and intravenous ethanol on the secretion of both thyrocalcitonin and gastrin in five patients with medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. Ethanol caused a moderate rise in plasma thyrocalcitonin to 316% +/- 343% of baseline when given intravenously and to 197% +/- 106% of baseline when given orally. Only oral ethanol caused a measurable rise in serum gastrin levels. Serum calcium did not change significantly from baseline during either oral or intravenous administration. The results suggest that stimulation of thyrocalcitonin secretion by ethanol is not secondary to increased secretion of gastrin nor to the induction of hypercalcemia. Neither oral nor intravenous ethanol appears to be as effective as intravenous pentagastrin in testing for the presence of medullary carcinoma.