What is the Clinical Significance of Parafollicular Cells?
Parafollicular cells are clinically significant because they are the cell type involved in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). This type of cancer arises from the C cells and is associated with mutations in the RET proto-oncogene. Early detection and diagnosis of MTC often involve measuring serum calcitonin levels, which can be elevated in patients with this cancer.