Familial thyroid cancer

Familial thyroid cancer can arise from parafollicular cells (familial medullary thyroid cancer) or from follicular cells (familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer). Familial medullary thyroid cancer may occur in isolation or as part of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type II syndromes. Genetic testing for a RET mutation on chromosome 10 is used to identify new family members who are gene carriers. Total thyroidectomy should be used in gene carriers without clinical disease before age 6 in medullary thyroid cancer and MEN type IIA, and as soon as the diagnosis is made in MEN type IIB after the first year of life. Those with clinical disease should have at least a bilateral central neck dissection. Modified radical neck dissection is recommended for patients when the primary tumor is 1.5 cm, A normal postoperative serum calcitonin level suggests that the operation has been curative. Physicians need to be aware of ethical and lifestyle issues related to patients with familial disease and their family members. Familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer occurs as a discrete entity or as part of other family cancer syndromes such as Gardner syndrome, Cowden disease, and other rare syndromes. Familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer almost exclusively includes patients with papillary or Hurthle cell cancers. These families appear to have more benign thyroid conditions. The gene (or genes) for familial papillary thyroid cancer is yet to be identified, whereas that for some Hurthle cells (TCO) has been mapped to chromosome 19p13.2. Familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer is somewhat more aggressive than its sporadic counterpart, but is less aggressive than medullary thyroid cancer. Total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection followed by radioactive iodine ablation and thyroid hormone suppression appear to be the most effective therapy. Curr Opin Oncol 2001, 13:44-51 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.