MEN syndromes are inherited disorders that cause tumors to form in hormone-producing glands. Our endocrine disorder specialists offer advanced care for all types of MEN syndromes.
Medically reviewed by Claire Graves, M.D. on Dec. 04, 2023.
MEN syndromes are rare, inherited conditions that cause tumors to form in glands in your endocrine system. This type of endocrine tumor syndrome causes your glands to make excess hormones. Noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant) tumors may also form in organs and tissues.
The most common treatment for MEN syndromes is surgery. UC Davis Health endocrine surgeons treat MEN syndromes by removing endocrine tumors and affected glands.
There are different types of MEN syndromes:
MEN syndrome symptoms depend on the type and affected glands. Some mild symptoms can be easy to dismiss.
Signs you have a MEN syndrome include:
Certain MEN syndromes can cause dangerously high blood pressure or extremely low blood sugar. Seek immediate care if you experience:
Various gene changes (mutations) cause MEN syndromes. The affected gene determines the syndrome type.
A parent with a MEN syndrome has a 50% chance of passing the relevant gene mutation to each of their children. Only one parent needs to have the genetic mutation for a child to be at risk.
Less commonly, a person with no family history of MEN syndromes develops the condition. The genetic mutation occurs for no apparent reason. This is called a de novo mutation.
We offer complete and in-depth testing for familial (genetic) endocrine disorders, including MEN syndromes. These tests help our experts determine the MEN syndrome type and disease severity.
You may get:
Treatments for MEN syndromes depend on the type, as well as the affected glands or organs. Possible treatments may include:
Endocrine surgery removes endocrine tumors and other affected glands or organs. Many people with MEN syndromes also have surgery to remove the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy).
If surgeons remove certain glands like your thyroid, you’ll need to take daily hormone medications to replace the missing hormones. Some medications can also lower high hormone levels caused by tumors and overactive glands.
Chemotherapy or radiation therapy can shrink tumors caused by endocrine system cancers. These treatments can also help if cancer spreads.
You can’t prevent the gene change that causes MEN syndromes. However, certain steps may lower your risk of cancer or passing on the gene mutation.
If you have a gene mutation that causes MEN syndromes and want to have children, you may consider in vitro fertilization (IVF) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). PGD tests embryos for certain genetic diseases. A provider implants embryos that don’t have the mutated gene. Our reproductive endocrinology experts can help.
People with MEN2A or MEN2B are at high risk for an aggressive type of thyroid cancer. Your provider may recommend surgery to remove your thyroid gland before cancer has a chance to develop or spread.
1 in 30KPeople have MEN1
50%Chance of passing the gene mutation that causes MEN syndromes to a child
Sources: MedlinePlus: Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia
American Society of Clinical Oncology: Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1
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