Pheochromocytoma can show an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Which description matches this pattern?

Pheochromocytoma can show an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Which description matches this pattern?

• A. Autosomal recessive
• B. X-linked
• C. Autosomal dominant
• D. Mitochondrial

Answer: (C)

Autosomal dominant inheritance means that a single mutated gene on an autosome is enough to predispose to the disease. This pattern typically shows affected individuals in successive generations and affects both sexes equally; each child of an affected parent has about a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation and the condition. Pheochromocytoma can be part of familial syndromes such as MEN2, which arise from a RET gene mutation transmitted in an autosomal dominant fashion. Because one defective copy is sufficient, a parent with the mutation can pass it to half of their offspring, and you may see the condition appearing in multiple generations. In contrast, autosomal recessive inheritance would require two mutated copies for disease to manifest, X-linked would show a male-skewed pattern with transmission from carrier females, and mitochondrial inheritance would pass from mother to all children, which do not fit the described pattern.

Autosomal dominant inheritance means that a single mutated gene on an autosome is enough to predispose to the disease. This pattern typically shows affected individuals in successive generations and affects both sexes equally; each child of an affected parent has about a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation and the condition.

Pheochromocytoma can be part of familial syndromes such as MEN2, which arise from a RET gene mutation transmitted in an autosomal dominant fashion. Because one defective copy is sufficient, a parent with the mutation can pass it to half of their offspring, and you may see the condition appearing in multiple generations.

In contrast, autosomal recessive inheritance would require two mutated copies for disease to manifest, X-linked would show a male-skewed pattern with transmission from carrier females, and mitochondrial inheritance would pass from mother to all children, which do not fit the described pattern.