Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and adrenal lesions

Purpose: We investigated the relationship of long-term pancreatic hormone h ypersecretion with adrenal lesions in patients with multiple endocrine neop lasia type 1 and in those with sporadic pancreatic endocrine tumors. Materials and Methods: We assessed the prevalence of adrenal lesions in 20 patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type I and in a control group of 12 with sporadic pancreatic endocrine tumors. We also performed genetic te sting for germline mutations of MEN1, the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 gene. Results: Adrenal lesions were common in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 , accounting for 35% of cases. All adrenal lesions were nonfunctioning and benign. The relative risk of adrenal tumors was higher in patients with mul tiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 than in controls (p <0.05). No apparent re lationship was observed of hormonal pattern or genotype with adrenal diseas e. Conclusions: Hormone hypersecretion by pancreatic endocrine tumors is not t he primary cause of the development of adrenal lesions and the role of the MEN1 gene in adrenal tumorigenesis remains unclear. Adrenal lesions follow a benign course in most multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 cases but caref ul morphological and functional foIlowup is advisable.