Two Cases of Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome Associated with Colorectal Cancer

Kumiko Kobayashi, Tsuneo Iiai, Hitoshi Kameyama, Tsunehisa Kanou, Atsushi Matsuki, Haruhiko Okamoto, Takeyasu Suda and Katsuyoshi Hatakeyama

Division of Digestive and General Surgery Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences

We report two cases of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome associated with rectal cancer. Case 1: A 65-year-old man referred for anorexia, diarrhea, and bloody stool was found in endoscopic examination to have numerous polypoid lesions in the stomach, throughout the colon, and in the rectum, leading to a diagnosis of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. Cancer of the rectum was detected, and Hartmann' operation was done after steroid therapy. Case 2: A 57-year-old man admitted for diarrhea and dyageusia was found in endoscopic examination to have numerous polypoid lesions in the stomach and colon. We conducted endoscopic mucosal resection for a rectal tumor shown by histological examination to be well differentiated adenocarcinoma. Most of the polyps showed histological changes typical of the syndrome, were nonneoplastic. The coexistence of carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract with this syndrome has been increasingly reported, probably due to improvements in treatment for the syndrome that have extended patient survival. This suggests that careful examination with close follow-up is required for patients of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome.

Key words
Cronkhite-Canada syndrome, colorectal cancer

Reprint requests
Kumiko Kobayashi Division of Digestive and General Surgery Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences
1-757 Asahimachidoori, Niigata, 951-8510 JAPAN

Accepted
April 28, 2004

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