multiple endocrine adenopathy(MEA) is ordinarily classified into two categories, MEA I and MEA II, which comprise their own components. However, some cases of mixed type MEA which do not fit into this classification have been reported.
We experienced two cases of mixed type MEA with pheochromocytoma and islet cell tumor of the pancreas. The occurrence of pheochromocytoma(s) or pancreatic islet cell tumor(s); or both, in two members of two unrelated families was likely to be
genetically associated. This "overlap syndrome", in which tumors that have traditionally been considered to be components of separate and mutually exclusive MEA have occurred concomitantly in the same patients or same family members raises the
question
regarding the validity of the traditional classification of AEAs. Moreover, the possibility of a pancreatic tumor should be kept in mind in any patients with pheochromocytomas, especially when it is bilateral or multicentric in origin.
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