Incidental finding of MEN-1 syndrome during staging and follow-up of breast carcinoma

Abstract

Type 1 multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN-1) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease, associated with germline mutations in the MEN-1 tumour suppressor gene (encoding the menin protein). Recent studies, through a better characterisation of the functions of the menin protein, have started to demonstrate how changes in this protein may be related to breast cancer. We present the case of a patient whose diagnosis of MEN-1 syndrome was made during treatment for a breast tumour - this diagnosis was obtained after finding multiple neoplastic lesions that fitted the MEN-1 syndrome spectrum, during the initial staging and subsequent follow-up of a breast tumour. In line with the growing evidence that links MEN-1 syndrome to breast cancer tumorigenesis, this case report highlights the following question: should we start screening this subset of patients earlier for breast cancer?