title: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B: maxillofacial significance in 5 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper intends to review for the oral and maxillofacial surgery community the MEN abnormalities generally, to emphasize the maxillofacial abnormalities peculiar to the MEN2B variant particularly, and to demonstrate the importance of early recognition of its most important component, medullary thyroid carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The findings in five individuals with confirmed diagnoses of MEN2B are arranged to demonstrate the various manifestations of the disorder, and together represent the largest single group in the oral and maxillofacial surgery literature to date.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tabulation of the patients' individual findings demonstrates the variants and severity of the disorder, discloses findings not previously emphasized in the literature, and stresses the significance of early recognition of medullary thyroid carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evidence in this study group suggests that the oral mucosal lesions are more commonly neurofibromas than neuromas as previously reported, that the characteristic dental central diastemas may occur independent of tongue size or the presence of oral soft tissue lesions, and that the characteristic apertognathia potentially requires surgical correction.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry, Detroit, MI. Electronic address: Mac999@bfomfs.com.
authors.forename: Robert Bruce
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: MacIntosh
authors.affiliation: Orthodontic Consultant, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, St. John Health System, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: Prasanna-Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Shivapuja
authors.affiliation: Chief Resident, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, St John Health System, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: Michael Brady
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Krzemien
authors.affiliation: Senior Student, University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000473:pathology*; D018814:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2b / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult