This book offers a comprehensive overview of medullary thyroid carcinoma, both in the more common sporadic form and in the familial form, multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) types 2A and 2B. The coverage includes, but is not limited to, molecular biology and genetics, pathology, clinical presentation, imaging techniques, surgical treatment, and follow-up. The role of calcitonin as a highly sensitive and specific tumor marker for the screening, diagnosis, and follow-up of MTC and metastatic disease is described, and the significance of other tumor markers is also considered. With regard to treatment, the use of thyroidectomy is fully discussed, including in children carrying the mutations in the RET proto-oncogene considered causative for MEN 2. Additionally, the value of tyrosine kinase inhibitors as the most effective treatment modality in patients with a large tumor burden or rapid tumor growth, or both, is explained. Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma and Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2 will be an ideal source of up-to-date information for a wide range of practitioners, including endocrinologists, oncologists, internal medicine specialists, geneticists, and nuclear medicine physicians.

Hypercalcemia is the most common life-threatening metabolic disorder associated with cancer. The pathophysiological, epidemiological and clinical aspects of hypercalcemia of malignancy are presented in this issue, with a focus on the recently discovered humoral factor responsible for the development of hypercalcemia. With a better understanding of the pathophysiology of this condition and the development of new potent drugs, capable of inhibiting bone resorption, especially bisphosphonates, the clinician will be more successful in correcting hypercalcemia in the great majority of patients.

Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma is a rare thyroid tumor originating from neural crest cells, the C-cell that implies several special features, secretion of different neuroendocrine markers, association with other endocrine tumors and familial appearance. The familial variant of medullary thyroid carcinoma allows an early detection by biochemical and genetic testing. At that stage acceptable surgical treatment will cure the patient. The sporadic form of medullary thyroid carcinoma will be diagnosed in a progressive stage, but adequate surgical procedure can cure these patients too. Long term survival depends on stage, age, sex, and variant of the disease and seems to be as good as in other differentiated thyroid cancers.

This book offers a comprehensive overview of medullary thyroid carcinoma, both in the more common sporadic form and in the familial form, multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) types 2A and 2B. The coverage includes, but is not limited to, molecular biology and genetics, pathology, clinical presentation, imaging techniques, surgical treatment, and follow-up. The role of calcitonin as a highly sensitive and specific tumor marker for the screening, diagnosis, and follow-up of MTC and metastatic disease is described, and the significance of other tumor markers is also considered. With regard to treatment, the use of thyroidectomy is fully discussed, including in children carrying the mutations in the RET proto-oncogene considered causative for MEN 2. Additionally, the value of tyrosine kinase inhibitors as the most effective treatment modality in patients with a large tumor burden or rapid tumor growth, or both, is explained. Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma and Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2 will be an ideal source of up-to-date information for a wide range of practitioners, including endocrinologists, oncologists, internal medicine specialists, geneticists, and nuclear medicine physicians.