Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) describes the occurrence of tumours in two or more endocrine organs in the same patient. There are two main types depending on the glands involved, MEN 1 (associated with mutations in chromosome 11q13) and MEN 2, the latter being divided into three subgroups, MEN 2a and 2b and Medullary Thyroid Cancer (MTC) only. The gene causing the MEN 2 syndromes is mapped to chromosome 10cen-10q11. MEN syndromes may be familial or sporadic although care should be taken in describing disease as sporadic – the family member with the disease may have died before it was diagnosed
Clinical features
MEN 1
Tumours of the parathyroids, pancreas and pituitary, rarely adrenal cortex, carcinomas and lipomas
