title: Medullary thyroid cancer.
abstract: The goal in managing patients who have MTC is to detect and surgically remove disease at an early stage. Tumor marker-based biochemical screening and DNA-based genetic screening have created the opportunity for effective prophylactic surgery in patients at risk for hereditary MTC. Complete surgical resection is critical for cure because cervical reoperation for persistent or recurrent disease benefits only select patients. With the advent of therapies that target the RET-activated pathways, new hope may be emerging for patients who have locally advanced or metastatic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Gonda 12, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Y Nancy
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Vipul
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lakhani
authors.forename: Samuel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Jeffrey F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Moley
mesh_terms: D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D018813:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D011379:Prognosis; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / Q000235:genetics; D012086:Reoperation; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D013965:Thyroidectomy
chemical_list: D002116:Calcitonin; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret