BACKGROUND: Once @entity259 gene carrier status is established, thyroidectomy must be performed in infancy for mutations in exon 10, but in @entity259 with non- @entity462 @entity8958 mutations, which is characterized by a late onset of C-cell disease, the appropriate timing of thyroidectomy is unclear. METHODS: We analyzed the cases of 76 @entity1 who underwent thyroidectomy (mean age, 35.2 years); 66 @entity1 underwent concomitant lymphadenectomy. RESULTS: Before the operation, 35 @entity1 had abnormal basal calcitonin levels. Nine and 30 @entity1 had negative or positive pentagastrin test results, respectively. We found normal thyroid in 4% of the @entity1 , @entity1373 in 29% of the @entity1 , @entity259 in 67% of the @entity1 (microscopic in 82.4%), and nodal metastases in 19.6% of the @entity1 . The @entity146 of the disease varied significantly between those @entity1 with preoperative positive pentagastrin test results and those @entity1 with high basal calcitonin levels, with a surgical cure rate of 60% and 34.3%, respectively. All @entity1 who did not achieve cure had high basal preoperative calcitonin levels, which were related to macroscopic @entity259 and nodal metastases in 5 of 9 @entity1 . CONCLUSION: Thyroidectomy should not be delayed until basal calcitonin level becomes abnormal, at which time @entity1442 may be present. As soon as the pentagastrin stimulation test becomes abnormal, operation should be undertaken on early staged disease to achieve cure for the @entity1 . When performed while pentagastrin stimulation test is still negative, thyroidectomy may be truly prophylactic and should be recommended at 5 to 6 years.

When should thyroidectomy be performed in XXXX gene carriers with non- @entity462 @entity8958 mutations?

@entity8958 :: ('5979', 'Gene') :: ['RET'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity462 :: ('MESH:D003545', 'Chemical') :: ['cysteine'] @entity146 :: ('MESH:D001523', 'Disease') :: ['aggressiveness'] @entity1373 :: ('MESH:D006965', 'Disease') :: ['C-cell hyperplasia'] @entity1442 :: ('MESH:D020178', 'Disease') :: ['advanced disease'] @entity259 :: ('MESH:D013964', 'Disease') :: ['familial medullary thyroid carcinoma', 'medullary thyroid carcinoma']
@entity259 :: (MESH:D013964,Disease) :: ['familial medullary thyroid carcinoma']
