Friedhelm Raue - Böcker

After 10 years, this second edition is extensively rewritten and updated and provides a source of information concerning all aspects of medullary thyroid carcinoma, including comprehensive actual references for interested scientists.Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare unique tumor which differs from other thyroid tumors by originating from the neuroendocrine C-cell, secreting the specific tumor marker calcitonin. MTC is associated in about 25% of cases with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, an autosomal dominant familial disorder causing tumors within various endocrine glands. The molecular genetics of tumor development is clarified: hereditary as well as sporadic MTC are linked to mutations in the RET proto- oncogene coding for a tyrosine kinase. These RET mutations serve as a genetic marker for hereditary MTC and allow for prophylactic thyroidectomy in gene carriers. The RET-tyrosine kinase is also a new therapeutic target using selective  tyrosine kinase inhibitors improving the outcome of advanced metastasized MTC. This book will be an ideal source of up-to-date information for a wide range of practitioners, including endocrinologists, oncologists, internal medicine specialists, geneticists, and nuclear medicine physicians.

This book offers a comprehensive overview of medullary thyroid carcinoma, both in the more common sporadic form and in the familial form, multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) types 2A and 2B.

Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma is a rare thyroid tumororiginating from neural crest cells, the C-cell that impliesseveral special features, secretion of differentneuroendocrine markers, association with other endocrinetumors and familial appearance. The familial variant ofmedullary thyroid carcinoma allows an early detection bybiochemical and genetic testing. At that stage acceptablesurgical treatment will cure the patient. The sporadic formof medullary thyroid carcinoma will be diagnosed in aprogressive stage, but adequate surgical procedure can curethese patients too. Long term survival depends on stage,age, sex, and variant of the disease and seems to be as goodas in other differentiated thyroid cancers.