Medullary carcinoma, molecular pathology of the thyroid and the diffuse neuroendocrine system

The updated DNES theory in use today incorporates the ideas of Pearse et al., the paraneuron concept of Fujita, and observations of other investigators who have contributed to the development and evolution of the DNES concept:
- Not limited to a particular organ
- Endocrine secretion stored in cytoplasmic granules surrounded by membrane

The most extensively studied neuroendocrine neoplasm is arguably the medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) for which this review focuses the attention in:
- Clinical features
- Pathological features
* Morphological features
* Immunohistochemical profile
* Precursor lesions/early neoplams
- Differential diagnosis
- Molecular pathways
- Prognosis