MULTIPLE ENDOCRINE NEOPLASIA TYPE-1 - GAS TROINTESTINAL HORMONES IN THE DETECTION

Detection of subjects from a multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 famil y must rest on clinical, biochemical and radiological data, since stud y of the genome is unable to detect these subjects. In the new family described here, 6 out of the 14 subjects explored were affected. One h ad a confirmed pancreatic endocrine tumour and in 3 others a pancreati c endocrine tumour was highly probable, since insulin and glucagon lev els, as well as ultrasonic exploration of the pancreas were pathologic al. Measurements of gastrointestinal hormones gave normal results in a ll cases. We conclude that to detect this endocrine neoplasia in subje cts at risk it seems necessary to measure plasma insulin levels and pe rform an abdominal ultrasonography.