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Nassour AJ, Nylen C, Sywak M, Clifton-Bligh R. Biochemistry may be misleading in metachronous MEN2A-associated phaeochromocytoma following unilateral total adrenalectomy. BMJ Case Rep 2020; 13:13/6/e234132. [PMID: 32532909 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2019-234132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
A 63-year-old woman with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) presented with recurrent spells of headaches, sweats and palpitations decades after right adrenalectomy for phaeochromocytoma, and total thyroidectomy for medullary thyroid cancer. She was hypertensive and in sinus rhythm. DOTA-TATE positron-emission tomography (PET) demonstrated a 12mm enhancing left adrenal incidentaloma. 24 hours urine catecholamines, and multiple plasma metanephrine and normetanephrine measurements were all within normal reference ranges. Based on her symptoms and imaging findings, left adrenalectomy was performed and found a 40 mm phaeochromocytoma. Her symptoms have since completely resolved and plasma metanephrine is now undetectable MEN2-associated phaeochromocytomas are often bilateral and may be metachronous. Patients at high risk of phaeochromocytoma who develop symptoms of catecholamine excess should be carefully evaluated even if plasma or urinary metanephrines are within the normal reference range. Biochemical reference ranges for metanephrines need to be adjusted accordingly in patients who have had prior unilateral total adrenalectomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony-Joe Nassour
- Endocrine Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital School, Saint Leonards, New South Wales, Australia .,General Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital School, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Carolina Nylen
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mark Sywak
- Endocrine Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital School, Saint Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Roderick Clifton-Bligh
- Endocrinology, Royal North Shore Hospital School, Saint Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
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Wells SA. Advances in the management of MEN2: from improved surgical and medical treatment to novel kinase inhibitors. Endocr Relat Cancer 2018; 25:T1-T13. [PMID: 29142004 PMCID: PMC5776732 DOI: 10.1530/erc-17-0325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), a tumor derived from the neural crest, occurs either sporadically or as the dominant component of the type 2 multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndromes, MEN2A and MEN2B. The discovery that mutations in the RET protooncogene cause hereditary MTC was of great importance, since it led to the development of novel methods of diagnosis and treatment. For example, the detection of a mutated RET allele in family members at risk for inheriting MEN2A or MEN2B signaled that they would develop MTC, and possibly other components of the syndromes. Furthermore, the detection of a mutated allele created the opportunity, especially in young children, to remove the thyroid before MTC developed, or while it was confined to the gland. The discovery also led to the development of molecular targeted therapeutics (MTTs), mainly tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which were effective in the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic MTC. While responses to MTTs are often dramatic, they are highly variable, and almost always transient, because the tumor cells become resistant to the drugs. Clinical investigators and the pharmaceutical industry are focusing on the development of the next generation of MTTs, which have minimal toxicity and greater specificity for mutated RET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Wells
- Genetics BranchNational Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Wells SA, Asa SL, Dralle H, Elisei R, Evans DB, Gagel RF, Lee N, Machens A, Moley JF, Pacini F, Raue F, Frank-Raue K, Robinson B, Rosenthal MS, Santoro M, Schlumberger M, Shah M, Waguespack SG. Revised American Thyroid Association guidelines for the management of medullary thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid 2015; 25:567-610. [PMID: 25810047 PMCID: PMC4490627 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2014.0335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1306] [Impact Index Per Article: 145.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The American Thyroid Association appointed a Task Force of experts to revise the original Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: Management Guidelines of the American Thyroid Association. METHODS The Task Force identified relevant articles using a systematic PubMed search, supplemented with additional published materials, and then created evidence-based recommendations, which were set in categories using criteria adapted from the United States Preventive Services Task Force Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The original guidelines provided abundant source material and an excellent organizational structure that served as the basis for the current revised document. RESULTS The revised guidelines are focused primarily on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and hereditary MTC. CONCLUSIONS The Task Force developed 67 evidence-based recommendations to assist clinicians in the care of patients with MTC. The Task Force considers the recommendations to represent current, rational, and optimal medical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A. Wells
- Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sylvia L. Asa
- Department of Pathology, University Health Network, and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Henning Dralle
- Department of General, Visceral, and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital, University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Rossella Elisei
- Department of Endocrinology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Douglas B. Evans
- Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Robert F. Gagel
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Nancy Lee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Andreas Machens
- Department of General, Visceral, and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital, University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Jeffrey F. Moley
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Furio Pacini
- Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Policlinico Santa Maria alle Scotte, Siena, Italy
| | - Friedhelm Raue
- Endocrine Practice, Moleculargenetic Laboratory, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Karin Frank-Raue
- Endocrine Practice, Moleculargenetic Laboratory, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bruce Robinson
- University of Sydney School of Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - M. Sara Rosenthal
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Massimo Santoro
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Universita' di Napoli “Federico II,” Napoli, Italy
| | - Martin Schlumberger
- Institut Gustave Roussy, Service de Medecine Nucleaire, Université of Paris-Sud, Villejuif, France
| | - Manisha Shah
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Steven G. Waguespack
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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Lowery AJ, Walsh S, McDermott EW, Prichard RS. Molecular and therapeutic advances in the diagnosis and management of malignant pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas. Oncologist 2013; 18:391-407. [PMID: 23576482 DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2012-0410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) and paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare catecholamine-secreting tumors derived from chromaffin cells originating in the neural crest. These tumors represent a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge because the diagnosis of malignancy is frequently made in retrospect by the development of metastatic or recurrent disease. Complete surgical resection offers the only potential for cure; however, recurrence can occur even after apparently successful resection of the primary tumor. The prognosis for malignant disease is poor because traditional treatment modalities have been limited. The last decade has witnessed exciting discoveries in the study of PCCs and PGLs; advances in molecular genetics have uncovered hereditary and germline mutations of at least 10 genes that contribute to the development of these tumors, and increasing knowledge of genotype-phenotype interactions has facilitated more accurate determination of malignant potential. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms responsible for malignant transformation in these tumors has opened avenues of investigation into targeted therapeutics that show promising results. There have also been significant advances in functional and radiological imaging and in the surgical approach to adrenalectomy, which remains the mainstay of treatment for PCC. In this review, we discuss the currently available diagnostic and therapeutic options for patients with malignant PCCs and PGLs and detail the molecular rationale and clinical evidence for novel and emerging diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoife J Lowery
- Department of Surgery, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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