American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

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Which condition is associated with gangliomas, medullary thyroid carcinoma, and pheochromocytoma?

  1. MEN 1

  2. MEN 2A

  3. MEN 2B

  4. MEN 3

The correct answer is: MEN 2B

The condition associated with gangliomas, medullary thyroid carcinoma, and pheochromocytoma is Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2B, which is correctly identified here. Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) type 2B is characterized by a specific triad of tumors. Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a key feature of this syndrome and is commonly associated with the MTC gene mutation. Pheochromocytoma, a tumor of the adrenal glands leading to excessive catecholamine release, is also associated with MEN 2B. Ganglioneuromas, or gangliomas, are neural tissue tumors that are frequently found in patients with MEN 2B, particularly affecting the gastrointestinal tract. MEN 2B is distinct from MEN 2A, which includes medullary thyroid carcinoma and pheochromocytoma but does not typically include ganglioneuromas as a common feature, as they are seen more frequently in MEN 2B. MEN 1, on the other hand, is primarily associated with parathyroid tumors, pancreatic endocrine tumors, and pituitary adenomas, while MEN 3 is not a recognized classification within the MEN syndromes. Therefore, the