A case of breast cancer in a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2

Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2 (MEN2) is a rare hereditary complex disorder characterized by the presence of medullary thyroid carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, and other hyperplasias or neoplasias of different endocrine tissues within a single patient. Simultaneous occurrence of MEN2 and other cancers that are derived from different origins is rare. In this report, we present a patient with known MEN2 who developed breast cancer as a result of invasive ductal carcinoma. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy and unilateral adrenalectomy due to medullary thyroid cancer and pheochromocytoma. Although patients with MEN2 may demonstrate a variety of neoplastic disorders, it is difficult to identify a case report of MEN2 with breast cancer. In addition, no etiological relationships between breast cancer and MEN2 have been reported to date. Thus, here we report a case of known MEN2 with breast cancer and present a review of the literature. (Korean J Med 79:432-437, 2010)