Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
Introduction
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type II is a disease passed down through families, in which one or more of the endocrine glands are overactive or form a tumor. Endocrine glands most commonly involved include adrenal gland, parathyroid gland and thyroid gland.
What are the symptoms of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2?
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Lump on the neck
- Breathing difficulty
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain
- Nervousness
- Pallor
- Irritability
- Headache
- Sweating
- Weight loss
- Palpitations
- Tremor
- Insomnia
- Constipation
- Lethargy
- Muscle pain
- Nausea
- Increased frequency of urination
- Confusion
- Bone fractures
What causes multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2?
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 is an inherited disorder that causes tumors in the endocrine glands. Genetic mutations of RET gene is speculated to be the cause of the disease.
Who is at highest risk?
- Positive family history
- Multifocal or recurrent neoplasia
- Two or more organ systems tumor involvement
Diagnosis
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 is detected by gene testing or, when gene testing is unavailable or yields a negative result, by laboratory tests that measure hormone levels. Less often, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 is diagnosed based on an individual’s medical and family history.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Thyroid adenoma
Treatment options
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 cannot be cured, but regular testing can detect the problems caused by multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. Tumors may grow for many years before serious complications develop.
- Surgery is indicated for thyroid tumors, adrenal tumors and parathyroid tumors.
Where to find medical care for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
Prevention
- Screening people with family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 is recommended.
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
- Prognosis of the disease depends on the stage at which it is diagnosed. Early diagnosis and treatment is associated with better prognosis.
Possible complications
- Metastasis
- Osteoporosis
- Kidney stones
- Fractures
- Hypoparathyroidism from parathyroidectomy
Sources
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ammu Susheela, M.D. [2]
Want to know more?
A more detailed clinical article for the same condition is available from WikiDoc. It is written for medical professionals and uses technical language.