Simultaneous double thymic carcinoids: a rare initial manifestation of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2011 Jan;59(1):68-72. doi: 10.1007/s11748-010-0606-y. Epub 2011 Jan 12.

Abstract

A 53-year-old man was referred to our hospital for treatment of two anterior mediastinal tumors. The anterior mediastinal tumors were resected by thymectomy under the probable diagnosis of double thymomas. The final pathological diagnosis was multiple thymic carcinoids. Although 20%-25% of patients with thymic carcinoid have a family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1), radiographic screening just after the operation did not detect any endocrine tumors. However, the patient had a urinary calculus 4 months 7 months after the operation. Endocrinological examination then revealed mild hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperprolactinemia. Radiologically, a parathyroid tumor and a pancreatic tumor were found. The patient was referred to a university hospital and a mutation of MEN-1 gene was detected. The diagnosis of MEN-1 was confirmed about 1 year after the operation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoid Tumor / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoid Tumor / genetics
  • Carcinoid Tumor / pathology
  • Carcinoid Tumor / surgery
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Delayed Diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 / diagnosis*
  • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 / genetics
  • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 / pathology
  • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 / surgery
  • Mutation
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Parathyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Thymectomy
  • Thymus Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / genetics
  • Thymus Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thymus Neoplasms / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • MEN1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins