Familial Nonmedullary Thyroid Carcinoma
Open Access
- 1 April 2006
- journal article
- review article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Cancer Control
- Vol. 13 (2), 106-110
- https://doi.org/10.1177/107327480601300204
Abstract
Nonmedullary thyroid carcinomas (NMTCs) originate from the thyroid epithelial cells and, until recently, were thought to arise sporadically without an inherited genetic predisposition. However, evidence of a familial predisposition to NMTC is accumulating. This review addresses the strengths, weaknesses, and clinical implications of the observations indicating an inherited genetic predisposition to NMTC. These observations include epidemiologic studies, descriptions of large kindreds, and genetic analyses. Familial NMTC (FNMTC) may be caused by an inherited genetic predisposition and can be divided into two groups. The first group has an increased prevalence of NMTC within a familial cancer syndrome with a preponderance of nonthyroidal tumors. In the second group the predominant neoplasm is NMTC, although other neoplasms may occur with increased frequency. These disorders are the focus of this review. A family history in NMTC patients should be directed at detecting those familial tumor syndromes with a preponderance of NMTC as well as those familial tumor syndromes enriched in NMTC but with a preponderance of nonthyroidal tumors. Since the recurrence rates may be greater in FNMTC than in sporadic NMTC, careful monitoring is indicated for affected individuals. The advantages and disadvantages of screening asymptomatic members of FNMTC kindreds with thyroid ultrasound are discussed, and the final decision is deferred to the treating physicians and their patients. It is hoped that positional cloning research will identify the FNMTC susceptibility genes.Keywords
This publication has 34 references indexed in Scilit:
- Familial Nonmedullary Thyroid CancerThyroid®, 2005
- Familial Non‐Medullary Thyroid Cancer: A Matched‐Case Control StudyThe Laryngoscope, 2004
- Familial Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma is Genetically Distinct from Familial Adenomatous Polyposis ColiThyroid®, 1999
- Papillary and Follicular Thyroid CarcinomaThe New England Journal of Medicine, 1998
- Family with nonmedullary thyroid neoplasmsJournal of Surgical Oncology, 1995
- Systematic Population-Based Assessment of Cancer Risk in First-Degree Relatives of Cancer ProbandsJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 1994
- Familial Papillary Carcinoma of the ThyroidThyroid®, 1992
- Familial papillary carcinoma of the thyroidAmerican Journal of Medical Genetics, 1986
- Simultaneous presentation of papillary carcinoma of thyroid in a father and sonBritish Journal of Surgery, 1983
- Familial occurrence of papillary thyroid carcinomaCancer, 1980