Published online Jun 26, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i12.2647
Peer-review started: January 14, 2020
First decision: April 8, 2020
Revised: April 25, 2020
Accepted: May 29, 2020
Article in press: May 29, 2020
Published online: June 26, 2020
Processing time: 162 Days and 2.1 Hours
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is a rare hereditary disorder caused by mutations of the MEN1 gene. It is characterized by hyperparathyroidism and involves the pancreas, anterior pituitary, duodenum, and adrenal gland. Here, we report a 40-year-old male patient with MEN1 who first manifested as thymic carcinoid, then primary hyperparathyroidism and prolactinoma, and a decade later pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.
The patient underwent a thymectomy because of the thymic carcinoid 10 years prior and a prolactinoma resection 2 years prior. His sister suffered from prolactinoma. His parents displayed a typical triad of amenorrhea, galactorrhea, and infertility. Computed tomography revealed a strong signal in the upper portion of the left lobes and posterior portion of the right lobes of the thyroid and irregular soft tissue densities of the pancreatic body. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging further showed strong 18F-flurodeoxyglucose uptake in the tail of the pancreatic body and segment IV of the liver. The patient underwent pancreatic body tail resection, pancreatic head mass enucleation, and ultrasound-guided radio-frequency ablation for liver cancer. Pathology results reported neuroendocrine tumor grade 2. Whole exome sequencing revealed a verified pathogenic mutation c.378G>A (p.Trp126*) in the MEN1 gene. The diagnosis of MEN1 was confirmed. At the 1.5-year follow-up, the patient appeared healthy without any sign of reoccurrence.
The present case may add some insight into the diagnosis and treatment of patients with MEN1.
Core tip: Genetic screening is recommended in patients with a family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 who present with primary hyperparathyroidism and pituitary tumors or gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors.