Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) II

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Endocrine glands

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) II

Definition:

Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia II (MEN II) is a hereditary disorder in which a type of thyroid cancer accompanied by recurring cancer of the adrenal glands.

One type of this disease (MEN IIa) is also associated with overgrowth (hyperplasia) of the parathyroid gland.

Alternative Names:

Sipple's syndrome

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The cause of MEN II is genetic -- a mutation in a gene called RET. Multiple tumors may appear in the same person, but not necessarily at the same time. The adrenal tumor is a pheochromocytoma and the thyroid tumor is a medullary carcinoma of the thyroid.

The disorder may occur at any age, and affects men and women equally. The main risk factor is a family history of MEN II.

Review Date: 11/9/2004
Reviewed By: Marcia S. Brose, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Hematology/Oncology, The University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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