Prophylactic total thyroidectomy in an 8-year-old girl with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A

We report a genetic carrier of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A ) who underwent prophylactic total thyroidectomy. The asymptomatic carrier of MEN 2A, an 8-year-old Taiwanese girl, was admitted for early thyroidecto my. Preoperative basal plasma concentrations of calcitonin and intact parat hyroid hormone, and urine vanillylmandelic acid excretion, were normal. Ult rasonography of the thyroid was also normal. Pathology did trot reveal any gross lesion but C-cell hyperplasia of the thyroid gland was found microsco pically. Prophylactic total thyroidectomy is encouraged and is justified du ring the first decade of life for MEN 2A carriers.