Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN2B)
MEN2B = RET M918T (codon 918, ~95%) — ATA HIGHEST risk; most aggressive, earliest-onset MTC of any MEN2 (metastatic in infancy/early childhood described). Cardinal sequence: recognize phenotype + RET test → EXCLUDE & treat pheochromocytoma (α before β) FIRST → PROPHYLACTIC TOTAL THYROIDECTOMY in the first year of life → metastatic MTC RET inhibitor → GI supportive → lifelong surveillance. Key distinction from MEN2A: NO primary hyperparathyroidism; instead mucosal neuromas + marfanoid habitus + intestinal ganglioneuromatosis + thickened corneal nerves + alacrima; ~50% de novo (paternal origin) so absent family history must not lower suspicion. Manifest path is a PLACEHOLDER (reuses endo.pheochromocytoma.v1 manifest) — no MEN2B-specific manifest or problem-package folder on disk yet. Open: MEN2B manifest, problem-package + atoms, RxNav RxCUI verification (no rxcui assigned by design), Bayesian LRs for phenotype features deferred.
Entry points (5)
- symptomMucosal neuromas ("bumpy lip"/tongue/eyelid) + marfanoid habitus in a child (2015 ATA Wells)mucosal_neuroma_marfanoid_phenotype
- symptomInfantile chronic constipation / megacolon / feeding failure — intestinal ganglioneuromatosis (often earliest clue) (2015 ATA Wells)infantile_constipation_megacolon_feeding_failure
- lab_abnormalityElevated calcitonin / CEA or thyroid nodule = medullary thyroid carcinoma (2015 ATA Wells)elevated_calcitonin_or_thyroid_mass
- historyRET M918T (codon 918) carrier or first-degree relative with MEN2B (2015 ATA Wells)ret_m918t_positive_or_men2b_family
- symptomParoxysmal/resistant HTN or pheochromocytoma triad (2015 ATA Wells)paroxysmal_or_resistant_htn_pheo
Required inputs (13)
- agerequireddemographic • used at CONTEXTAge dictates thyroidectomy timing — first year of life for ATA highest-risk M918T; infants present with GI/phenotype before MTC is clinically apparent
- ret_genotyperequiredhistory • used at CONTEXTRET M918T (codon 918, ~95% of MEN2B) defines ATA HIGHEST risk; genotype is the single most consequential input
- family_history_men2brequiredhistory • used at CONTEXT~50% de novo (paternal origin) — ABSENT family history must NOT lower suspicion; positive history triggers cascade testing
- mucosal_neuromas_phenotyperequiredsymptom • used at ENTRYMucosal neuromas + marfanoid habitus + thickened corneal nerves + alacrima = the recognizable phenotype enabling EARLY diagnosis
- gi_ganglioneuromatosis_symptomsrequiredsymptom • used at ENTRYInfantile constipation / megacolon / feeding failure is frequently the earliest presenting clue, often before MTC
- calcitoninrequiredlab • used at INITIAL_WORKUPPrimary MTC tumor marker — basal (± stimulated) calcitonin drives surgical urgency and surveillance
- cearequiredlab • used at INITIAL_WORKUPCarcinoembryonic antigen — second MTC marker; doubling time prognosticates MTC progression
- plasma_or_urine_metanephrinesrequiredlab • used at INITIAL_WORKUPPheochromocytoma (~50%, often bilateral) MUST be excluded and treated BEFORE any thyroid/adrenal surgery
- calcium_pthrequiredlab • used at INITIAL_WORKUPConfirm ABSENCE of primary hyperparathyroidism — its presence argues against MEN2B and toward MEN2A (key distinction)
- sbprequiredvital • used at RED_FLAGSPheochromocytoma crisis recognition + pre-operative blockade target
- hrvital • used at RED_FLAGSTachycardia drives β-blocker timing (only AFTER adequate α-blockade) in pheo
- neck_us_thyroidimaging • used at BRANCHING_WORKUPThyroid US ± FNA for MTC staging; central/lateral nodal mapping pre-thyroidectomy
- adrenal_ct_or_mriimaging • used at BRANCHING_WORKUPAdrenal cross-sectional imaging localizes pheochromocytoma before adrenalectomy
12-phase flow (12)
- 1FRAMEFrame MEN2B as ATA HIGHEST-risk RET syndrome — most aggressive earliest-onset MTC + pheo (~50%) WITHOUT primary hyperparathyroidism; phenotype recognition in a child is the determinant of MTC outcomeinputs: age, ret_genotypeadvance: MEN2B suspected on phenotype or RET M918T confirmed
- 2ENTRYTrigger captured — mucosal neuromas/marfanoid phenotype, infantile GI ganglioneuromatosis (earliest clue), elevated calcitonin/thyroid mass, RET carrier/MEN2B family, or pheo presentationinputs: mucosal_neuromas_phenotype, gi_ganglioneuromatosis_symptomsadvance: Entry trigger captured
- 3CONTEXTCapture RET genotype (M918T ~95%), family history (note ~50% de novo / paternal origin — absent history does NOT lower suspicion), age (thyroidectomy timing), prior pheo screeninginputs: ret_genotype, family_history_men2b, ageadvance: Genotype + family context classified
- 4RED_FLAGSScreen for unprepared pheochromocytoma crisis (paroxysmal/resistant HTN), metastatic MTC at presentation (esp. infancy), and infantile feeding failure / obstructive megacolon — any precludes elective surgery until stabilizedinputs: sbp, hractions: workup.secondary_htnadvance: Red flags screened; pheo crisis and feeding failure addressed
- 5INITIAL_WORKUPBasal calcitonin + CEA, fractionated plasma/urine metanephrines (exclude pheo FIRST), calcium + PTH (confirm NO primary hyperparathyroidism), CMP, CBC; RET targeted/cascade testing if not doneinputs: calcitonin, cea, plasma_or_urine_metanephrines, calcium_pthactions: workup.men_screening, panel.thyroid, panel.hormone, panel.tumor, panel.cmp, panel.cbcadvance: MTC markers + pheo screen + Ca/PTH + RET status obtained
- 6BRANCHING_WORKUPPheo positive → adrenal CT/MRI ± functional imaging, α-then-β blockade pathway; MTC markers elevated → neck US ± FNA, nodal mapping, cross-sectional staging for distant disease (esp. infant)inputs: neck_us_thyroid, adrenal_ct_or_mriactions: workup.thyroid_nodule, workup.adrenal_incidentalomaadvance: Pheo localized/cleared and MTC staged
- 7DIFFERENTIALMEN2B vs MEN2A (PHPT + cutaneous lichen amyloidosis / Hirschsprung-associated RET) vs isolated FMTC vs marfanoid connective-tissue mimic (Marfan/MEN1 habitus differential — Marfan has NO mucosal neuromas, normal calcitonin)advance: MEN2B confirmed and mimics excluded
- 8RISK_STRATIFICATIONATA risk category = HIGHEST (M918T); calcitonin/CEA level + doubling time stratify MTC burden; qSOFA/NEWS2 only if intercurrent decompensation (pheo crisis, post-op sepsis, infant feeding failure)inputs: calcitonin, ceaactions: calc.qsofa, calc.news2advance: ATA risk = HIGHEST documented; MTC burden tier set
- 9TREATMENTSequence: (1) recognize phenotype + RET test → (2) EXCLUDE & treat pheo FIRST (α-blockade then β, then adrenalectomy) → (3) PROPHYLACTIC TOTAL THYROIDECTOMY in the first year of life (ATA highest risk; ideally ≤6 mo, by 1 yr) → (4) selpercatinib/pralsetinib for advanced/metastatic MTC → (5) supportive GI management of ganglioneuromatosis → lifelong surveillanceinputs: plasma_or_urine_metanephrines, calcitonin, ageadvance: Pheo cleared first, prophylactic thyroidectomy planned/done, RET-inhibitor + GI plan documented
- 10DISPOSITIONOutpatient genetics + endocrine + pediatric endocrine surgery for elective prophylactic thyroidectomy planning; inpatient/peri-operative admission for pheo optimization, thyroidectomy, or metastatic MTC therapy initiationadvance: Disposition + multidisciplinary referrals booked
- 11MONITORINGPost-thyroidectomy: calcitonin/CEA + lifelong levothyroxine + calcium/PTH for surgical hypoparathyroidism; annual metanephrines for pheo; serial RET-inhibitor toxicity (QTc, LFTs, BP) if on selpercatinib/pralsetinibinputs: calcitonin, ceaactions: panel.thyroid, panel.tumor, panel.metabolicadvance: Surveillance schedule active
- 12FOLLOWUPLifelong endocrine/oncology/genetics; cascade RET testing of at-risk relatives (counsel ~50% de novo); annual calcitonin/CEA/metanephrines; GI follow-up for ganglioneuromatosis; reproductive counseling (autosomal dominant, prenatal/PGT options)advance: Lifelong surveillance + cascade testing + counseling scheduled