A retrospective analysis of patients with medullary carcinoma of the thyroid was undertaken to determine the frequency and characteristics of diarrhea associated with this tumor. Of 111 patients, 36 had diarrhea as a clinical symptom either before diagnosis of the primary neoplasm or during the course of the metastatic malignant disease. The diarrhea was usually modest in frequency and loose or watery; two patients had mild steatorrhea. An additional two patients had significantly elevated urinary secretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Medullary carcinoma can produce a variety of circulating substances, some of which may have a significant effect on gastrointestinal motility.
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Steinfeld et al. (1973) studied this question.
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