Imaging diagnostic standard in multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN)

Background Among all hereditary cancer syndromes MEN Type 1 and 2 are characterized by the concurrent but independent appearance of benign as well as malignant tumours. Neoplasias of parathyroid glands, pancreas, pituitary gland as well as neuroendocrine tumours of the stomach and intestinal wall are typical for MEN 1. Medullary thyroid carcinomas together with parathyroid adenomas and phaeochromocytomas are hallmarks of MEN 2. This presentation gives an overview about the multitude of imaging techniques that are inevitable for diagnostics and long-term follow up in MEN patients beyond molecular genetic and laboratory methods.