Medullary thyroid cancer with RET V804M mutation: more indolent than expected?

Journal Article (Journal Article)

BACKGROUND: Significant genotype-phenotype variability among multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A patients with a RET V804M mutation has been reported. METHODS: Patients with a RET V804M mutation treated at a single center were identified (January 1996-December 2020). The baseline characteristics, operative details, pathology, biochemical, and long-term data were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 79 patients; none developed pheochromocytoma or hyperparathyroidism or died in the study period. The mean age was 41.5 years (range = 1.0-81.0 years); 46.8% were men. Of 68 surgical patients, 53 (77.9%) underwent total thyroidectomy and 15 (22.1%) underwent total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection with or without lateral neck dissection. Twenty-four patients had elevated preoperative calcitonin, of whom 12 underwent total thyroidectomy (median = 7.5; range = 5.0-237.0 pg/mL), 10 underwent total thyroidectomy + central neck dissection (median = 27.6; range = 5.1-147.0 pg/mL), and 2 underwent total thyroidectomy + central neck dissection + lateral neck dissection (median = 3182.0; range = 361.0-6003.0 pg/mL). Pathology was benign (27.9%), papillary thyroid cancer alone (1.5%), C-cell hyperplasia (23.5%), and medullary thyroid cancer (47.1%; median tumor size = 3.0 mm). Three patients had elevated calcitonin postoperatively (median follow-up time = 60.0 months). In adjusted modeling, a preoperative calcitonin >5 pg/mL was associated with having medullary thyroid cancer on final pathology (odds ratio = 13.3; 95% confidence interval, 3.2-56.3; P < .001). CONCLUSION: In this large United States cohort of surgical patients with a RET V804M mutation, most had indolent disease and were without classic multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A features. Calcitonin >5 pg/mL may serve as a meaningful value to guide surveillance and timing of surgery.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Frisco, NA; Gunn, AH; Thomas, SM; Stang, MT; Scheri, RP; Kazaure, HS

Published Date

  • January 2023

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 173 / 1

Start / End Page

  • 260 - 267

PubMed ID

  • 36150924

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1532-7361

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.surg.2022.05.005

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States