| Theme |
Polyposis of the colon and rectum, and other related conditions : hereditary colorectal cancer |
| Title |
Cronkhite-Canada syndrome -- clinical aspects and malignant complications |
| Author |
Takashi Nishikawa |
Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College |
| Author |
Ichiro Hirata |
Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Medical College |
| [ Summary ] |
Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is characterized by nonhereditary gastrointestinal polyposis associated with diarrhea, hypoproteinemia, and ectodermal changes, consisting of diffuse alopecia, nail atrophy and hyperpigmentation of the skin. About 60 % of the reported cases were men at a mean age of 60 years. Various treatments have been employed in management of CCS including corticosteroids and anti-plasmin drugs. These treatment have been improved the course of this syndrome.
The gastrointestinal polypoid lesions are usually considered nonneoplastic retention or inflammatory polyps. However, there are several reports of CCS associated with gastrointestinal cancer. We studied 20 Japanese patients with CCS associated with colorectal cancer. Malignant degeneration is reported and may occur in up to 15 % of patients. Thus, CCS may be a premalignant condition for colorectal cancer. Therefore, a close follow-up examination is recommend to detect colorectal cancer at an early stage. |