MULTIPLE ENDOCRINE NEOPLASIA, TYPE-II - A COMBINED SURGICAL AND GENETIC APPROACH TO TREATMENT

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 124  (4) , 403-410
Abstract
A family with multiple endocrine neoplasia type II, living in southeastern Ontario [Canada], is described. Twenty individuals had medullary carcinoma of the thyroid, pheochromocytoma or both; the diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type II is strongly suspected in 5 other individuals in the earlier generations. In this family, the disease seems to be transmitted by an autosomal dominant gene. A screening program set up for the family in 1977 in 2 yr identified 4 asymptomatic individuals (3 with medullary carcinoma of the thyroid and 1 with this carcinoma and a pheochromocytoma). The family background, clinical picture, treatment and some problems of the screening program are described.