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Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) II   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Sipple's syndrome

Definition:

A hereditary disorder in which patients develop a type of thyroid cancer (medullary thyroid carcinoma) which is accompanied by recurring cancer of the adrenal glands (pheochromocytoma).  One type of this disease (MEN IIa) is also associated with hyperplasia (overgrowth) of the parathyroid gland.

Causes and Risks

The cause of multiple endocrine neoplasia II (MEN II) is genetic, with abnormality of a gene called RET. Multiple tumors may appear in the same person, but not necessarily at the same time. The disorder may occur at any age, and affects men and women equally. The adrenal tumor is a pheochromocytoma and the thyroid tumor is a medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. The main risk factor is a family history of MEN II.

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