Mineral metabolic effects of thyroidectomy and long-term outcomes in a family with MEN 2A.

We have followed a family with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A for 18 years. Four members have undergone total thyroidectomy for medullary thyroid carcinoma or C-cell hyperplasia, and one has required bilateral adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma. None has developed hypercalcemic hyperparathyroidism, although parathyroid hormone levels were relatively high prethyroidectomy and fell postoperatively in the patients with high calcitonin levels. In three of the four cases, intestinal calcium absorption decreased following thyroidectomy.