title: Seventeen-year-long follow-up of a family affected by type 2A multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN 2A).
abstract: This paper reports the results of a 17-year-long follow-up covering 17 members of a family affected by multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2A, first diagnosed in 1980. This family is enrolled in our screening program. The thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands of the family members were investigated using the most sophisticated and sensitive techniques which have become available during this period, and their DNA was genetically tested for detecting RET mutations. Thanks to the combination of these two approaches it was possible to confirm the diagnosis in the members concerned from the genetic point of view, and to achieve an early diagnosis in the young members of the last generation before the clinical onset of the disease. The detection of a RET mutation also prompted a prophylactic thyroidectomy in a four year-old boy, in a pre-tumoral stage of the disease. Lastly, evidence is provided that genetic analysis of the DNA of the chorionic villi can be carried out as a prenatal test during routine amniocentesis.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Endocrinologia, Ospedale Niguarda, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Libroia
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Verga
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vecchi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Banfi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zurleni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quadro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scurini
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fattoruso
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colantuoni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000601:surgery; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018813:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009154:Mutation; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000503:physiopathology; D010375:Pedigree; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000503:physiopathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D002116:Calcitonin; D004247:DNA; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C416649:Ret protein, Drosophila