Surgical approaches in hereditary endocrine tumors

Management of surgical diseases of Primary Hyperparathyroidism: indications of the United Italian Society of Endocrine Surgery (SIUEC)

A task force of the United Italian society of Endocrine Surgery (SIUEC) was commissioned to review the position statement on diagnostic, therapeutic and health‑care management protocol in parathyroid surgery published in 2014, at the light of new technologies, recent oncological concepts, and tailored approaches. The objective of this publication was to support surgeons with modern rational protocols of treatment that can be shared by health-care professionals, taking into account important clinical, healthcare and therapeutic aspects, as well as potential sequelae and complications. The task force consists of 12 members of the SIUEC highly trained and experienced in thyroid and parathyroid surgery. The main topics concern diagnostic test and localization studies, mode of admission and waiting time, therapeutic pathway (patient preparation for surgery, surgical treatment, postoperative management, management of major complications), hospital discharge and patient information, outpatient care and follow-up, outpatient initial management of patients with pHPT.

The role of prophylactic parathyroidectomy during thyroidectomy for MTC in patients with MEN2A syndrome

AIM

To define the role of prophylactic parathyroidectomy in the surgical treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in multiple endocrine neoplasia type IIa (MEN2A) syndrome through a literature review.

Pediatric solid tumors and associated cancer predisposition syndromes: Workup, management, and surveillance. A summary from the APSA Cancer Committee

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Cancer predisposition syndromes (CPS) are a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders that greatly increase the risk of developing malignancies. CPS are particularly relevant to pediatric surgeons since nearly 10% of cancer diagnoses are due to inherited genetic traits, and CPS often contribute to cancer development during childhood.

MATERIALS/METHODS

The English language literature was searched for manuscripts, practice guidelines, and society statements on "cancer predisposition syndromes in children". Following review of these manuscripts and cross-referencing of their bibliographies, tables were created to summarize findings of the most common CPS associated with surgically treated pediatric solid malignancies.

RESULTS

Pediatric surgeons should be aware of CPS as the identification of one of these syndromes can completely change the management of certain tumors, such as WT. The most common CPS associated with pediatric solid malignancies are outlined, with an emphasis on those most often encountered by pediatric surgeons: neuroblastoma, Wilms' tumor, hepatoblastoma, and medullary thyroid cancer. Frequently associated non-tumor manifestations of these CPS are also included as a guide to increase surgeon awareness. Screening and management guidelines are outlined, and published genetic testing and counseling guidelines are included where available.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric surgeons play an important role as surgical oncologists and are often the first point of contact for children with solid tumors. In their role of delivering a diagnosis and developing a follow-up and treatment plan as part of a multidisciplinary team, familiarity with common CPS will ensure evidence-based practices are followed, including important principles such as organ preservation and intensified surveillance plans. This review defines and summarizes the CPS associated with common childhood solid tumors encountered by the pediatric surgeon, as well as common non-cancerous disease stigmata that may help guide diagnosis.

TYPE OF STUDY

Summary paper.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

5.

Frequently asked questions and answers (if any) in patients with adrenal incidentaloma

PURPOSE

Adrenal incidentalomas (AIs) are incidentally discovered adrenal masses, during an imaging study undertaken for other reasons than the suspicion of adrenal disease. Their management is not a minor concern for patients and health-care related costs, since their increasing prevalence in the aging population. The exclusion of malignancy is the first question to attempt, then a careful evaluation of adrenal hormones is suggested. Surgery should be considered in case of overt secretion (primary aldosteronism, adrenal Cushing's Syndrome or pheochromocytoma), however the management of subclinical secretion is still a matter of debate.

METHODS

The aim of the present narrative review is to offer a practical guidance regarding the management of AI, by providing evidence-based answers to frequently asked questions.

CONCLUSION

The clinical experience is of utmost importance: a personalized diagnostic-therapeutic approach, based upon multidisciplinary discussion, is suggested.

Adrenal pheochromocytoma: is it all or the tip of the iceberg?

Adrenal pheochromocytoma is not always a simple retroperitoneal tumor but may be part of a more complicated condition. It often has a spectrum of complex and variable imaging features, may present as a collision tumor and composite tumor, and is associated with a variety of clinical syndromes. A comprehensive understanding of the clinical, pathological, and variable imaging manifestations of pheochromocytoma can help radiologists make an accurate diagnosis. This article reviews various special imaging features of pheochromocytoma and pheochromocytoma-related diseases.

Hereditary Endocrine Tumors and Associated Syndromes: A Narrative Review for Endocrinologists and Endocrine Surgeons

OBJECTIVE

Hereditary endocrine tumors (HET) were among the first group of tumors where predisposition syndromes were recognized. The utility of genetic awareness is having the capacity to treat at an earlier stage, screen for other manifestations and initiate family cascade testing. The aim of this narrative review is to describe the most common hereditary syndromes associated with frequently encountered endocrine tumors, with an emphasis on screening and surveillance.

METHODS

A MEDLINE search of articles for relevance to endocrine tumors and hereditary syndromes was performed.

RESULTS

The most common hereditary syndromes associated with frequently encountered endocrine tumors are described in terms of prevalence, genotype, phenotype, penetrance of malignancy, surgical management, screening and surveillance.

CONCLUSION

Medical practitioners involved in the care of patients with endocrine tumors, should have an index of suspicion for an underlying hereditary syndrome. Interdisciplinary care is integral to successful, long-term management of these patients and affected family members.

A multidisciplinary approach to the management of adrenal incidentaloma

An adrenal incidentaloma (AI) is an adrenal neoplasm incidentally discovered during an imaging unrelated to suspected adrenal disease. The aim of the present review is to offer practical guidance on the multidisciplinary approach of AIs.Areas covered:The prevalence of AI is high in the aging population (up to 5-8%); however, hormonally active or malignant conditions are rare. After the discovery of an AI, it is suggested to assess in parallel if the mass is potentially malignant and functionally active. The answer to the former question is mainly based on medical history (extra-adrenal malignancies, new-onset of signs or symptoms) and imaging (conventional radiology and/or nuclear medicine). The answer to the latter question is a complete endocrine evaluation of both cortical (glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids) and medullary (catecholamines) secretion.Expert opinion:A multidisciplinary discussion is suggested for patients with adrenal disease, after the exclusion of nonfunctioning benign cortical adenoma, in order to plan a close and tailored follow-up for the suspected malignant or functioning forms. Surgery is advised for patients with malignant disease (adrenocortical cancer) or with clinically relevant secreting neoplasm (primary aldosteronism, Cushing's syndrome, and pheochromocytoma).

Genetics of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review summarizes our current understanding of germline and somatic genetics and genomics of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PCC/PGL), describes existing knowledge gaps, and discusses future research directions.

RECENT FINDINGS

Germline pathogenic variants (PVs) are found in up to 40% of those with PCC/PGL. Tumors with germline PVs are broadly categorized as Cluster 1 (pseudohypoxia), including those with SDH, VHL, FH, and EPAS1 PVs, or Cluster 2 (kinase signaling) including those with NF1, RET, TMEM127, and MAX PVs. Somatic driver mutations exist in some of the same genes (RET, VHL, NF1, EPAS1) as well as in additional genes including HRAS, CSDE1 and genes involved in cell immortalization (ATRX and TERT). Other somatic driver events include recurrent fusion genes involving MAML3.

SUMMARY

PCC/PGL have the highest association with germline PVs of all human solid tumors. Expanding our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of PCC/PGL is essential to advancements in diagnosis and surveillance and the development of novel therapies for these unique tumors.

Case Report: Pheochromocytoma and Synchronous Neuroblastoma in a Family With Hereditary Pheochromocytoma Associated With a MAX Deleterious Variant

Introduction

Pheochromocytomas are rare catecholamine-producing neuroendocrine tumours arising from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla or extra-adrenal sympathetic paraganglia. Recent studies have indicated that up to 40% of pheochromocytomas could be attributable to an inherited germline variant in an increasing list of susceptibility genes. Germline variants of the MYC-associated factor (MAX) gene have been associated with familial pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, a median age at onset of 33 years and an overall frequency estimated at 1.9%. We describe a deleterious MAX variant associated with hereditary pheochromocytoma in a family with four affected individuals.

Case presentation

The first patient presented with bilateral pheochromocytoma in 1995; genetic testing was proposed to his oldest son, when he was diagnosed with a bilateral pheochromocytoma with a synchronous neuroblastoma. Upon the identification of the MAX variant c.97C>T, p.(Arg33Ter), in the latter individual, his two siblings and their father were tested and the same variant was identified in all of them. Both siblings were subsequently diagnosed with pheochromocytoma (one of them bilateral) and choose to remain on active surveillance before they were submitted to adrenalectomy. All the tumours secreted predominantly norepinephrine, accordingly to the typical biochemical phenotype ascribed to variants in the MAX gene.

Conclusion

This case series is, to our knowledge, the one with the largest number of individuals with hereditary pheochromocytoma with a deleterious MAX variant in the same family. It is also the first case with a synchronous pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma in carriers of a MAX deleterious variant. This report draws attention to some ill-defined features of pheochromocytoma and other malignancies associated with a MAX variant and highlights the importance of understanding the genotype-phenotype correlation in hereditary pheochromocytoma and the impact of oriented genetic testing to detect, survey and treat patients and kindreds at risk.

Adrenal-sparing surgery: current concepts on a theme from the past

Adrenal insufficiency represents a debilitating condition which mandates lifelong steroid replacement and which is associated with significant long-term morbidity, due to either inadequate or excessive replacement. The concept of preserving healthy cortical tissue by means of partial adrenalectomy has evolved as a means of avoiding the detrimental consequences of adrenal insufficiency. The advent of advanced technology in adrenal surgery has greatly facilitated the performance of partial adrenalectomy, enabling utilization of this method in an increasing number of endocrine diseases. Hereditary pheochromocytoma, Conn's syndrome, Cushing's syndrome, and non-functional adrenal masses represent the current indications for partial adrenalectomy, although the specific circumstances under which adrenal-sparing surgery should be proposed are still debatable. Partial adrenalectomy can be achieved by all types of minimally invasive surgery. In the absence of randomized, prospective, controlled studies designed to compare laparoscopic, retroperitoneoscopic, and robot-assisted partial adrenalectomy, none of these techniques has as yet been proven to be the gold standard for adrenal-sparing surgery. Apart from indications for surgery, results of surgery, and different types of partial adrenalectomy, controversial topics addressed in this review article include technical aspects such as the volume of residual adrenal tissue needed, ligation of adrenal vein, and means of tumor identification. Discussion of these controversial topics represents an attempt to define the role of partial adrenalectomy in modern adrenal surgery.

Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma: From Epidemiology to Clinical Findings

Pheochromocytomas (PCC) and paragangliomas (PGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors. Pheochromocytomas arise from chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla, and PGLs arise from chromaffin cells in the ganglia of the autonomic nervous system. Paragangliomas originate from sympathetic or parasympathetic ganglia in the abdomen, thorax, and pelvis. The majority of PCC and sympathetic PGL are endocrine active tumors causing clinical symptoms by secreting excess catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine) and their metabolites. The incidence of PCC and PGL ranges between 2 and 8 per million, with a prevalence between 1:2500 and 1:6500. It peaks between the 3rd and 5th decades of life, and approximately 20% of cases are pediatric patients. The prevalence among patients with hypertension in outpatient clinic ranges between 0.1-0.6% in adults and between 2-4.5% in the pediatric age group. 10-49% of these tumors is detected incidentally in imaging techniques performed for other reasons. However, 4-8% of adrenal incidentalomas are PCCs. Of these neuroendocrine tumors, 80-85% are PCCs and 15-20% are PGLs.

Up to 40% of patients with PCC and PGL has disease-specific germline mutations and the situation is hereditary. Of 60% of the remaining sporadic patients, at least 1/3 has a somatic mutation in predisposing genes. 8% of the sporadic cases, 20-75% of the hereditary cases, 5% of the bilateral, adrenal cases, and 33% of the extra-adrenal cases at first presentation are metastatic. Although PCCs and PGLs have scoring systems for histological evaluation of the primary tumor, it is not possible to diagnose whether the tumor is malignant since there is no histological system approved for the biological aggressiveness of this tumor group. Metastasis is defined as the presence of chromaffin tissue in non-chromaffin organs, such as lymph nodes, liver, lungs and bone. Although most of the PCC and PGL are benign, the metastatic disease may develop in 15-17%. Metastatic disease is reported between 2-25% in PCCs and 2.4-60% in PGLs. The TNM staging system of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) was developed to predict the prognosis, based on the specific anatomical features of the primary tumor and the occurrence of metastasis.

Surgical approaches and results of treatment for hereditary paragangliomas

Paragangliomas (PGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumours; parasympathetic PGL are predominantly non-secreting and located at the skull base and neck, while sympathetic PGL are typically catecholamine-secreting and located at abdomino-pelvic level. Approximately 40% of PGL may be caused by germline mutations; hereditary variants should be suspected especially in case of positive family history, early onset, multifocal, or recurrent PGL. Significant genotype-phenotype correlation has been recognized, including syndromic presentation, location, multifocality and risk of malignancy. Surgical resection remains the only curative strategy, but the outcomes may be unsatisfactory because of surgical morbidity and recurrence rate. However, due to the rarity of the disease, most data derive from case-report or limited series. This paper was aimed to review the available literature on the epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical features, treatment of PGL in order to discuss the surgical approach and the results of treatment in hereditary PGL.

Synchronous bilateral pheochromocytomas and paraganglioma with novel germline mutation in MAX: a case report

Background

Recent advance of genetic testing has contributed to the diagnosis of hereditary pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL). The clinical characteristics of hereditary PPGL are varying among the types of mutational genes. It is still difficult to specify the pathognomonic symptoms in the case of rare genetic mutations. Here, we report the case of synchronous bilateral pheochromocytomas and paraganglioma with novel MYC associated factor X (MAX) gene mutation.

Case presentation

A 24-year-old female had hyperhidrosis and hypertension. Her urine test showed high normetanephrine and vanillylmandelic acid. Enhanced computed tomography revealed three enhanced masses in right adrenal gland, left adrenal gland, and left renal hilus. She was diagnosed with PPGL. Because ¹²³I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy indicated the accumulations in the left adrenal gland mass and the left renal hilus mass and not in the right adrenal gland mass, we performed laparoscopic left adrenalectomy and extirpation of the left renal hilus mass to preserve the right adrenocortical function. However, her symptoms recurred shortly after the operation presumably due to unveiling of the activity of the right pheochromocytoma. Following right adrenalectomy as the second operation, the catecholamine levels declined to normal range. Her genetic testing indicated the novel germline mutation in MAX gene (c.70_73 del AAAC/p.Lys24fs*40).

Conclusions

MAX germline mutation is recently identified as a rare cause of hereditary PPGL. The deletion mutation in MAX gene in this patient has never reported before. In the case of bilateral pheochromocytomas, the surgical indication should be decided considering each patient’s genetic background. Due to the possibility for other types of malignant tumors, close follow-up is essential for MAX mutation carriers.

Non-functioning parathyroid cystic tumour: malignant or not? Report of a case

Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is a very rare endocrine tumour, usually characterized by symptoms such as a neck mass, dysphonia, severe hypercalcemia exceeding 140 mg/L and elevated serum parathyroid hormone levels, even more than 5 times the upper limit of normal. Non-functioning parathyroid cancer is extremely rare and, in this case, its pre-operative diagnosis is often difficult. A 54-year old female patient, referring dysphagia and dysphonia, underwent neck ultrasound and neck CT. A left thyroid nodule, probably cystic, was found. It presented caudal extent on anterior mediastinum causing compression of the left lateral wall of the trachea. The preoperative calcemia was into the normal range. The patient underwent left thyroid lobectomy. Histological exam showed a cystic lesion, immunohistochemically originating from parathyroid that oriented for carcinoma. The 18 months follow-up did not show a residual-recurrent disease. The parathyroid origin of a neck lesion could not be suspected before surgery when specific laboratory tests are not available and clinical effects of hyperparathyroidism syndrome are not present. Histological features are not always sufficient for the differential diagnosis between the parathyroid adenoma and carcinoma. The immunohistochemistry is an useful tool that can aid to reach the definite diagnosis.