Parathyroid gland | Multiple endocrine neoplasia

Parathyroid gland

The parathyroid gland produces the parathyroid hormone. This hormone regulates the calcium and phosphate balance in the body and is responsible for bone formation and breakdown. According to this function, a tumor of the parathyroid gland can lead to an imbalance of calcium and phosphate. Symptomatically, this leads to a significantly increased urge to urinate and a correspondingly increased feeling of thirst. Nausea and vomiting may also occur (multiple endocrine neoplasia).

Pancreas

The pancreas also produces several hormones, which lead to different clinical pictures. Overproduction of gastrin leads to Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. This syndrome is accompanied by an increased incidence of gastric ulcers.

Clinically this leads to stomach pain and bleeding. In some cases, these can initially be completely asymptomatic. If the tumor produces more insulin, a sudden drop in blood sugar can occur.Especially if no food has been taken for several hours.

This is when nausea, malaise, trembling, sweating and unconsciousness occur. If there is an overproduction of the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, the clinical picture of Verner-Morrison syndrome develops. This is accompanied by massive watery diarrhea and a large loss of potassium.

This potassium deficiency can result in cardiac arrhythmia. If the pancreas forms too much glucagon due to the tumor, typical skin symptoms often occur. In addition, the body’s sugar tolerance is disturbed. If increased serotonin is produced in the tumor, the result is increased mobility in the gastrointestinal tract. This leads to abdominal pain and watery diarrhea.

Diagnostics

The examination of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 is based on the symptoms and elevated hormone levels of each of the above mentioned tumors. Patients with this neoplasia should always undergo genetic testing to rule out a gene mutation. In addition, if the gene mutation is present, a family history should be taken. Patients with the MEN- 1 mutation should be examined regularly to detect the tumor as early as possible and to be able to treat it before symptoms occur.