Adrenal medullary disease in multiple endocrine neoplasia type II

The diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type II (MEN-II) was made in 18 patients from 1966 through 1978 at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Eight patients had adrenal medullary disease. Seven had bilateral adrenal pheocyromocytomas (two with concomitant medullary hyperplasia) and one had a unilateral pheochromocytoma with contralateral medullary hyperplasia. No malignant or extraadrenal pheochromocytomas were found. Pheochromocytomas in patients with MEN-II are multiple and involve both adrenal glands. Adrenal venography is advocated as the primary diagnostic tool for localization of adrenal medullary disease in MEN-II patients.