Objectives: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) is an inherited disorder characterised by slow progressing tumors of the parathyroids, of the endocrine pancreas and of the anterior pituitary. A genetic locus predisposing to this disease has been localised on chromosome 11. Predictive diagnosis of carriers of the defective gene is possible in families using genetic markers at this locus. However, this analysis presupposes a precise identification of affected subjects. Moreover, expression of the disease may vary from one family to the other. The aim of the present study was to define the typical clinical features of the syndrom.
Methods: We assessed retrospectively 26 cases of MEN 1 identified during 20 years in the same medico-surgical center. Among 11 men and 15 women, all those who had a genealogical investigation had a positive family history of MEN 1.
Results: Bifocal and trifocal tumors were the main patterns of associations, and were diagnosed at a mean age of 48.6 years. Parathyroid involvement was most frequent and earliest (96% of cases). The second most frequent was pancreatic involvement (69.2% of cases) predominantly manifesting with gastrinomas (N = 13). Multifocal tumors were usually diagnosed before or within 5 years following diagnosis of the first tumor. Among pituitary tumors one case of meningioma was observed, a feature not reported previously. An asymptomatic adrenal involvement was observed in about 1/3 of cases. Other silent tumors (euthyroid nodules, lipomas) were also noted.
Conclusion: These data suggest that the clinical presentation and course of MEN 1 is homogeneous and are in agreement with the hypothesis of a recessive tumor-suppressor gene expressed in specific endocrine cell lines, suggesting that careful family studies should be conducted when a case of MEN 1 is diagnosed to facilitate early carrier detection among relatives.