Progress report on multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1

Abstract

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a germline pathogenic variant in the MEN1 tumor suppressor gene. Patients with MEN1 have a high risk for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) with a penetrance of nearly 100%, pituitary adenomas (PitAd) in 40% of patients, and neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) of the pancreas (40% of patients), duodenum, lung, and thymus. Increased MEN1-related mortality is mainly related to duodenal-pancreatic and thymic NEN. Management of PHPT differs from that of patients with sporadic disease, as the surgical approach in MEN1-related PHPT includes near-total or total parathyroidectomy because of multigland hyperplasia in most patients and the consequent high risk of recurrence. NEN management also differs from patients with sporadic disease due to multiple synchronous and metasynchronous neoplasms. In addition, the lifelong risk of developing NEN requires special considerations to avoid excessive surgeries and to minimize damage to the patient's function and well-being. This progress report will outline current insights into surveillance and management of the major clinical manifestation of MEN1 syndrome in children and adults with MEN1 diagnosis. In addition, we will discuss MEN1-like clinical presentation with negative MEN1-genetic workup and future clinical and research directions.

Keywords: Hyperparathyroidism; MEN; Neuroendocrine tumors; Pituitary.