Indication and Timing of Thyroid Surgery for Patients with Hereditary Medullary Thyroid Cancer Syndromes

Authors:
Jennifer B. OgilvieFrom the University of California, San Francisco, Department of Surgery, Endocrine Surgery and Oncology Program, San Francisco, California.

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and
Electron KebebewFrom the University of California, San Francisco, Department of Surgery, Endocrine Surgery and Oncology Program, San Francisco, California.

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Volume/Issue:
Volume 4: Issue 2
Online Publication Date:
Feb 2006
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6004/jnccn.2006.0014
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Hereditary medullary thyroid cancer syndromes comprise familial medullary thyroid cancer (FMTC) and multiple endocrine neoplasia types 2A and 2B. Hereditary medullary thyroid cancers have an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance and are caused by activating germline point mutations in the RET proto-oncogene. Evaluation of the onset, extent, and progression of hereditary medullary thyroid cancer associated with specific RET mutations has enabled clinicians to treat patients based on the level of risk associated with their specific mutation. Children identified by RET screening to be at risk for the development of medullary thyroid cancer can be treated with prophylactic thyroidectomy before developing the disease. This review covers the diagnosis, evaluation, timing of surgical management, and optimal follow-up of patients with hereditary medullary thyroid cancer syndromes.

Correspondence: Electron Kebebew MD, University of California, San Francisco, Department of Surgery, Endocrine Surgery and Oncology Program, 1600 Divisadero Street, Box 1674, San Francisco, CA 94143. E-mail: kebebewe@surgery.ucsf.edu.
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Copyright:
Copyright © 2006 by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Page Numbers:
9
Article Category:
Research Article
Received:
22 Jul 2005
Accepted:
05 Oct 2005
Print Publication Date:
01 Feb 2006
Online Publication Date:
Feb 2006
Keywords:
Familial medullary thyroid cancer; MEN 2A; MEN 2B; FMTC; RET; prophylactic thyroidectomy
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