MEN 2 is rare, occurring in fewer than one person in every 20,000. In patients with MEN 2, the parathyroid, adrenal and thyroid glands may become overactive at the same time or separately during a patient's lifetime.
MEN 2 differs from MEN 1 in one significant way; nearly all patients who inherit MEN 2 will develop medullary thyroid cancer during their lifetime. It is recommended that people who know they have inherited the MEN 2 gene have their thyroid completely removed to prevent this type of thyroid cancer from developing.
In MEN 2, the parathyroid, adrenal and thyroid glands tend to be overactive. The parathyroid gland releases too much parathyroid hormone, leading to hypercalcemia, or excess calcium in the blood. The adrenal gland releases hormones that cause tumors called pheochromocytomas or adrenocortical carcinoma. All patients with medullary thyroid cancer have elevated levels of the hormone calcitonin, which is produced by the thyroid.
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