Multidisciplinary integrated care pathway for von Hippel-Lindau disease.

BACKGROUND: Clinical pathways are care plans established to describe essential steps in the care of patients with a specific clinical problem. They translate (inter)national guidelines into local applicable protocols and clinical practice. The purpose of this article is to establish a multidisciplinary integrated care pathway for specialists and allied health care professionals in caring for individuals with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. METHODS: Using a modified Delphi consensus-making process, a multidisciplinary panel from 5 Dutch University Medical Centers produced an integrated care pathway relating to the provision of care for patients with VHL by medical specialists, specialized nurses, and associated health care professionals. Patient representatives cocreated the pathway and contributed quality criteria from the patients' perspective. RESULTS: The panel agreed on recommendations for the optimal quality of care for individuals with a VHL gene mutation. These items were the starting point for the development of a patient care pathway. With international medical guidelines addressing the different VHL-related disorders, this article presents a patient care pathway as a flowchart that can be incorporated into VHL expertise clinics or nonacademic treatment clinics. CONCLUSIONS: Medical specialists (internists, urologists, neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, geneticists, medical oncologists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, pediatricians, and ear-nose-throat specialists) together with specialized nurses play a vital role alongside health care professionals in providing care to people affected by VHL and their families. This article presents a set of consensus recommendations, supported by organ-specific guidelines, for the roles of these practitioners in order to provide optimal VHL care. This care pathway can form the basis for the development of comprehensive, integrated pathways for multiple neoplasia syndromes.

The Additional Value of Somatostatin Receptor Positron Emission Computed Tomography ([68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT) Compared with Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Head and Neck Region in Paraganglioma Patients: A Pilot Study.

The Dutch guideline for patients suspected of head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGLs) recommends magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or computed tomography (CT) of the head and neck area. Additionally, it suggests considering additional nuclear imaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT compared to MRI in patients with suspected HNPGLs and carriers of genetic variations. METHODS: In this single-center pilot study, retrospective data were obtained from consecutive patients between 2016 and 2023. Both MRI and [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT were performed within 12 months. The primary outcome was the location of HNPGLs. RESULTS: A total of 25 consecutive patients were included, and 7 patients (28.0%, p = 0.5) showed differences between the imaging modalities, of whom 5 patients had unexpected localizations with additional uptake by somatostatin receptors (SSTR) on the [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT. CONCLUSIONS: The authors recommend performing baseline imaging with [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT (if available) in variant carriers and using MRI/CT for follow-up according to the regional protocol, thereby shifting the gold standard for baseline imaging from MRI/CT to [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT.

Chromothripsis as a mechanism driving complex de novo structural rearrangements in the germline.

A variety of mutational mechanisms shape the dynamic architecture of human genomes and occasionally result in congenital defects and disease. Here, we used genome-wide long mate-pair sequencing to systematically screen for inherited and de novo structural variation in a trio including a child with severe congenital abnormalities. We identified 4321 inherited structural variants and 17 de novo rearrangements. We characterized the de novo structural changes to the base-pair level revealing a complex series of balanced inter- and intra-chromosomal rearrangements consisting of 12 breakpoints involving chromosomes 1, 4 and 10. Detailed inspection of breakpoint regions indicated that a series of simultaneous double-stranded DNA breaks caused local shattering of chromosomes. Fusion of the resulting chromosomal fragments involved non-homologous end joining, since junction points displayed limited or no homology and small insertions and deletions. The pattern of random joining of chromosomal fragments that we observe here strongly resembles the somatic rearrangement patterns--termed chromothripsis--that have recently been described in deranged cancer cells. We conclude that a similar mechanism may also drive the formation of de novo structural variation in the germline.

Diagnostic Utility of Menin Immunohistochemistry in Patients With Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 Syndrome.

A clinical diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome is usually confirmed with genetic testing in the germline. It is expected that menin protein expression is lost in MEN1-related tumors. Therefore, we investigated the potential of menin immunohistochemistry in parathyroid adenomas as an additional tool in the recognition and genetic diagnosis of MEN1 syndrome. Local pathology archives were searched for parathyroid tumors from patients with MEN1 syndrome and without MEN1, including sporadic, patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A and hyperparathyroidism-jaw parathyroid tumors. Menin immunohistochemistry was performed and its use to identify MEN1-related tumors was assessed. Twenty-nine parathyroid tumors from 16 patients with MEN1 and 61 patients with parathyroid tumors from 32 non-MEN1 were evaluated. Immunohistochemical nuclear menin loss in one or more tumors was found in 100% of patients with MEN1 and 9% of patients with non-MEN1. In patients with multiple tumors, menin loss in at least one tumor was seen in 100% of 8 patients with MEN1 and 21% of patients with 14 non-MEN1. Using a cutoff of at least 2 tumors showing menin loss per patient, the positive and negative predictive values for the diagnosis MEN1 were both 100%. The practical and additional value of menin immunohistochemistry in clinical genetic MEN1 diagnosis is further illustrated by menin immunohistochemistry in 2 cases with a germline variant of unknown significance in the MEN1 gene. Menin immunohistochemistry is useful in the recognition of MEN1 syndrome as well as in the clinical genetic analysis of patients with inconclusive MEN1 germline testing.

Risk of colorectal and endometrial cancers in EPCAM deletion-positive Lynch syndrome: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Lynch syndrome is caused by germline mutations in MSH2, MLH1, MSH6, and PMS2 mismatch-repair genes and leads to a high risk of colorectal and endometrial cancer. We previously showed that constitutional 3' end deletions of EPCAM can cause Lynch syndrome through epigenetic silencing of MSH2 in EPCAM-expressing tissues, resulting in tissue-specific MSH2 deficiency. We aim to establish the risk of cancer associated with such EPCAM deletions. METHODS: We obtained clinical data for 194 carriers of a 3' end EPCAM deletion from 41 families known to us at the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands and compared cancer risk with data from a previously described cohort of 473 carriers from 91 families with mutations in MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, or a combined EPCAM-MSH2 deletion. FINDINGS: 93 of the 194 EPCAM deletion carriers were diagnosed with colorectal cancer; three of the 92 women with EPCAM deletions were diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Carriers of an EPCAM deletion had a 75% (95% CI 65-85) cumulative risk of colorectal cancer before the age of 70 years (mean age at diagnosis 43 years [SD 12]), which did not differ significantly from that of carriers of combined EPCAM-MSH2 deletion (69% [95% CI 47-91], p=0·8609) or mutations in MSH2 (77% [64-90], p=0·5892) or MLH1 (79% [68-90], p=0·5492), but was higher than noted for carriers of MSH6 mutation (50% [38-62], p<0·0001). By contrast, women with EPCAM deletions had a 12% [0-27] cumulative risk of endometrial cancer, which was lower than was that noted for carriers of a combined EPCAM-MSH2 deletion (55% [20-90], p<0·0001) or of a mutation in MSH2 (51% [33-69], p=0·0006) or MSH6 (34% [20-48], p=0·0309), but did not differ significantly from that noted for MLH1 (33% [15-51], p=0·1193) mutation carriers. This risk seems to be restricted to deletions that extend close to the MSH2 gene promoter. Of 194 carriers of an EPCAM deletion, three had duodenal cancer and four had pancreatic cancer. INTERPRETATION: EPCAM deletion carriers have a high risk of colorectal cancer; only those with deletions extending close to the MSH2 promoter have an increased risk of endometrial cancer. These results underscore the effect of mosaic MSH2 deficiency, leading to variable cancer risks, and could form the basis of an optimised protocol for the recognition and targeted prevention of cancer in EPCAM deletion carriers.

Timely diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia 2B by identification of intestinal ganglioneuromatosis: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in childhood is rare and has an unfavorable prognosis. To improve outcome, early diagnosis is essential. In patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN2B), MTC can occur already before the age of 1 year. Recognition of non-endocrine features of MEN2B may lead to timely diagnosis. PURPOSE: To describe how early recognition of non-endocrine features can lead to a timely diagnosis of MEN2B as well as the effect of recognition of premonitory symptoms on prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective case series from the University Medical Center Utrecht/Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, a Dutch national expertise center for MEN patients. All eight MEN2B patients in follow-up between 1976 and 2020 were included and medical records reviewed. RESULTS: Intestinal ganglioneuromatosis (IGN) as the cause of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms was detected in seven patients. In three of them within months after birth. This led to early diagnosis of MEN2B, which allowed subsequent curative thyroid surgery. On the contrary, a MEN2B diagnosis later in childhood-in three patients (also) triggered by oral neuromas/neurofibromas-led to recurrent, persistent, and/or progressive MTC in five patients. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal GI manifestations offer the most important window of opportunity for early detection of MEN2B. By accurate evaluation of rectal biopsies in patients with early onset severe constipation, IGN can be timely detected, while ruling out Hirschsprung's disease. MEN2B gene analysis should follow detection of IGN and-when confirmed-should prompt possibly still curative thyroid surgery.

Clear cell chondrosarcoma in Von Hippel-Lindau disease.

A diagnosis of clear cell chondrosarcoma of the ulna was made in a patient with Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL). After surgery, genetic analysis of the tumor tissue showed loss of heterozygosity at the VHL gene locus. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed loss of expression of the VHL protein in the tumor cells. In addition, abundant Cyclin D1 expression in the tumor was observed. Chondrosarcoma has been described before in a VHL patient and VHL protein expression has been correlated to tumor grade in a series of sporadic chondrosarcomas. In this report, we show that clear cell chondrosarcoma may be a rare but canonical VHL manifestation through a cell-autonomous mechanism involving somatic loss-of-heterozygosity of the VHL tumor suppressor gene. We discuss the relevance of this observation with regard to the pathogenesis of clear cell chondrosarcoma in the context of VHL.

Clues For Genetic Anticipation In Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1.

CONTEXT: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary disease caused by the loss of function of the MEN1 gene, a tumor-suppressor gene that encodes the protein menin. It is characterized by the occurrence of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT), duodenopancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (dpNET), pituitary tumors (PIT), adrenal adenomas, and bronchopulmonary (bp-NET), thymic, and gastric neuroendocrine tumors. More insight into factors influencing the age-related penetrance of MEN1 manifestations could provide clues for more personalized screening programs. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether genetic anticipation plays a role in the largest known MEN1 families in the Netherlands. METHODS: All Dutch MEN1 families with ≥ 10 affected members in ≥ 2 successive generations were identified. Age at detection of the different MEN1-related manifestations were compared among generations using regression analyses adjusted for competing risks. To correct for the beneficial effect of being under surveillance, manifestations occurring during surveillance were also separately compared. RESULTS: A total of 152 MEN1 patients from 10 families were included. A significantly decreased age at detection of pHPT, dpNET, PIT, and bp-NET was found in successive generations (P < 0.0001). Adjusted analyses led to the same results. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the presence of genetic anticipation. However, due to a risk of residual bias, the results must be interpreted with caution. After independent validation in other cohorts and further translational research investigating the molecular mechanisms explaining this phenomenon in MEN1, the results might add to future, more personalized, screening protocols and earlier screening for future generations of MEN1 patients.

Clinical Relevance of Genetic Analysis in Patients With Pituitary Adenomas: A Systematic Review.

Pituitary adenomas (PA) are amongst the most prevalent intracranial tumors, causing complications by hormonal overproduction or deficiency and tumor mass effects, with 95% of cases occurring sporadically. Associated germline mutations (AIP, MEN1, CDKN1B, PRKAR1A, SDHx) and Xq26.3 microduplications are increasingly identified, but the clinical consequences in sporadic PA remain unclear. This systematic review evaluates predictors of a genetic cause of sporadic PA and the consequences for treatment outcome. We undertook a sensitive MEDLINE/Pubmed, EMBASE, and Web of Science search with critical appraisal of identified studies. Thirty-seven studies on predictors of mutations and 10 studies on the influence on treatment outcome were included. AIP and MEN1 mutations were associated with young age of PA diagnosis. AIP mutations were also associated with gigantism and macroadenomas at time of diagnosis. Xq26.3 microduplications were associated with PA below the age of five. AIP and MEN1 mutation analysis is therefore recommended in young patients (≤30 years). AIP mutation analysis is specifically recommended for patients with PA induced gigantism and macroadenoma. Screening for Xq26.3 microduplications is advisable in children below the age of five with increased growth velocity due to PA. There is no evidence supporting mutation analysis of other genes in sporadic PA. MEN1 mutation related prolactinoma respond well to dopamine agonists while AIP mutation associated somatotroph and lactotroph adenoma are frequently resistant to medical treatment. In patients harboring an Xq26.3 microduplication treatment is challenging, although outcome is not different from other patients with PA induced gigantism. Effective use of genetic analysis may lead to early disease identification, while knowledge of the impact of germline mutations on susceptibility to various treatment modalities helps to determine therapeutic strategies, possibly lowering disease morbidity.

Clinical Aspects of SDHA-Related Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma: A Nationwide Study.

Context: Paraganglioma (PGL) has the highest degree of heritability among human neoplasms. Current clinical understanding of germline SDHA mutation carriers is limited. Objective: To estimate the contribution of SDHA mutations in PGL and to assess clinical manifestations and age-related penetrance. Design: Nationwide retrospective cohort study. Setting: Tertiary referral centers in the Netherlands (multicenter). Patients: Germline SDHA analysis was performed in 393 patients with genetically unexplained PGL. Subsequently, 30 index SDHA mutation carriers and 56 nonindex carriers were studied. Main Outcome Measures: SDHA mutation detection yield, clinical manifestations, and SDHA-related disease penetrance. Results: Pathogenic germline SDHA variants were identified in 30 of the 393 referred patients with PGL (7.6%), who had head and neck PGL (21 of 174 [12%]), pheochromocytoma (4 of 191 [2%]), or sympathetic PGL (5 of 28 [18%]). The median age at diagnosis was 43 years (range, 17 to 81 years) in index SDHA mutation carriers compared with 52 years (range, 7 to 90 years) in nonmutation carriers (P = 0.002). The estimated penetrance of any SDHA-related manifestation was 10% at age 70 years (95% confidence interval, 0% to 21%) in nonindex mutation carriers. Conclusion: Germline SDHA mutations are relatively common (7.6%) in patients with genetically unexplained PGL. Most index patients presented with apparently sporadic PGL. In this SDHA series, the largest assembled so far, we found the lowest penetrance of all major PGL predisposition genes. This suggests that recommendations for genetic counseling of at-risk relatives and stringency of surveillance for SDHA mutation carriers might need to be reassessed.

CDC73-Related Disorders: Clinical Manifestations and Case Detection in Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

Context: Heterozygous pathogenic germline variants in CDC73 predispose to the development of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) and, less frequently, ossifying fibroma of the jaw and renal and uterine tumors. Clinical information on CDC73-related disorders has so far been limited to small case series. Objective: To assess the clinical manifestations and penetrance in CDC73-related disorders and to improve case detection in pHPT. Design: Nationwide retrospective Dutch cohort study. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: We studied 89 patients with pHPT referred for germline CDC73 analysis and 43 subsequently tested relatives who proved to be mutation carriers. Investigation: Germline CDC73 mutation analysis. Mean Outcome: CDC73 mutation detection yield, referral rate, and CDC73-related disease penetrance. Results: Pathogenic germline CDC73 variants were identified in 11 of the 89 referred pHPT patients (12.4%), with (suspected) hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor (HPT-JT) syndrome (n = 3), familial isolated pHPT (n = 5), apparently sporadic parathyroid carcinoma (n = 2), and apparently sporadic parathyroid adenoma (n = 1). The estimated penetrance of CDC73-related disorders was 65% at age 50 years (95% confidence interval, 48% to 82%) in 43 nonindex mutation carriers. Conclusions: Germline CDC73 analysis is recommended in individuals with (suspected) HPT-JT syndrome, familial isolated pHPT, atypical or malignant parathyroid histology, and young individuals with pHPT. These criteria would increase germline CDC73 mutation detection, enabling optimal clinical management of pHPT as well as genetic counseling and surveillance for family members at risk for developing CDC73-related disorders.

Impact of Delay in Diagnosis in Outcomes in MEN1: Results From the Dutch MEN1 Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: Identifying a germline mutation in the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) gene in an index case has consequences for a whole family. Eligible family members should be offered genetic counseling and MEN1 mutation testing. Subsequently, clinical screening of mutation carriers according to the guidelines should be initiated. We assessed whether there is a lag time from MEN1 diagnosis of the index case to MEN1 diagnosis of family members. In addition, we determined whether this lag time was associated with an increased morbidity and mortality risk. DESIGN: A cohort study was performed using the Dutch MEN1 database, including >90% of the Dutch MEN1 population >16 years of age (n = 393). RESULTS: Fifty-eight MEN1 families were identified, of whom 57 were index cases and 247 were non-index cases (n = 304). The median lag time in MEN1 diagnosis of family members was 3.5 (range, 0-30) years. At the time of MEN1 diagnosis, 30 (12.1%) non-index cases had a duodenopancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, of whom 20% had metastases with a mean lag time of 10.9 years, in comparison with 7.1 years without metastases. Twenty-five (10.1%) non-index cases had a pituitary tumor, of whom 80% had a microadenoma and 20% had a macroadenoma, with mean lag times of 7.2 and 10.6 years, respectively. Ninety-five (38.4%) non-index cases had a primary hyperparathyroidism with a mean lag time of 9.5 years in comparison with seven patients without a primary hyperparathyroidism with a mean lag time of 3 years (P = .005). Ten non-index cases died because of a MEN1-related cause that developed during or before the lag time. CONCLUSION: There is a clinically relevant delay in MEN1 diagnosis in families because of a lag time between the diagnosis of an index case and the rest of the family. More emphasis should be placed on the conduct of proper counseling and genetic testing in all eligible family members.

Parietal bone agenesis and associated multiple congenital anomalies.

Congenital defects of the calvaria in general and the parietal bones in particular are rare diseases. The latter are of three kinds: 1) cranioschisis, 2) craniodysostosis, and 3) foramina parietalia permagna (FPP). Here, we describe an exceptional anomaly, namely, complete absence of one parietal bone and dysplasia of the other. Agenesis has been reported twice before in the literature. In these cases, the calvarial defect was the only congenital anomaly. In contrast, the patient described in this article exhibited many other congenital deformities, namely, iris coloboma, facial dysmorphism, a large ventricular septal defect of the heart, and a horseshoe kidney. Some of these deformities are associated with neural crest development. Chromosomal analysis was normal in both blood and fibroblasts, and fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis failed to demonstrate a 22q11 deletion as seen in DiGeorge syndrome, a neural crest-related disease complex. Since 2000, the third group of congenital defects of the parietal bones, FPP, has been associated with mutations of the MSX-2 gene. In our case, a genetic analysis of this gene was performed, but no mutations or deletions of MSX-2 were detected.