Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) II

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Endocrine glands

Multiple endocrine neoplasia, type II (MEN II) is an inherited disorder in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive or form a tumor. Endocrine glands most commonly involved include:

• Adrenal (about half the time)
• Parathyroid (20% of the time)
• Thyroid (almost all of the time)

See also: MEN I

Sipple syndrome; MEN II

The cause of MEN II is a defect in a gene called RET. This defect causes many tumors to appear in the same person, but not necessarily at the same time. The adrenal tumor is called a pheochromocytoma, and the thyroid tumor is a medullary carcinoma of the thyroid.

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The tumors involve multiple parts of the thyroid gland or more than one of the parathyroid and adrenal glands. Tumors in the thyroid, adrenal, or parathyroid glands may occur years apart.

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

There are two subtypes of MEN II -- MEN IIa and IIb. MEN IIb is less common.

Review Date: 03/02/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).