Cronkhite-Canada syndrome associated with esophageal and gastric cancers: report of a case

Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome Associated With Superficial Esophageal Carcinoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome is a rare disease characterized by generalized gastrointestinal polyposis, alopecia, skin pigmentation, and onychotrophia with no generally recognized mechanism of pathogenesis. There is a tendency of malignant transformation or coexistence of gastrointestinal malignancies in patients with Cronkhite-Canada syndrome.

Case Description

The patient was a 67-year-old man who complained of dyspepsia, hair loss, skin hyperpigmentation, and pedal edema. Lab tests showed hypoalbuminemia. Endoscopic findings included superficial esophageal carcinoma and numerous polyps in the stomach, duodenum, and colon. The patient was treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection for the esophagus lesion, endoscopic mucosal resection for colon polyps, and glucocorticoids for Cronkhite-Canada syndrome.

Conclusion

Esophagus cancer is a rare comorbidity of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. Endoscopic examination and surveillance are critical for patients with Cronkhite-Canada syndrome for malignant gastrointestinal tumors.

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome: from clinical features to treatment

Cronkhite–Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare acquired polyposis with unknown etiology. To date, >500 cases have been reported worldwide. CCS is typically characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea and skin changes (e.g. alopecia, pigmentation, and nail atrophy). Endoscopic features include diffuse polyps throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract, except for the esophagus. Pathological types of polyps in CCS mainly include inflammatory, hyperplastic, hamartomatous, and adenomatous polyps. CCS can be complicated by many diseases and has a canceration tendency with a high mortality rate. Moreover, there is no uniform standard treatment for CCS. A review of the reported cases of CCS is presented herein, with the goal of improving our understanding of this disease.

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome: A rare polyposis

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare non-genetic disease whose clinical manifestations are diffuse polyps of the gastrointestinal tract, finger-nail malnutrition, alopecia, skin pigmentation, diarrhea, weight loss, and taste disorders. The majority of CCS cases have a poor prognosis and often have life-threatening complications. The etiology of and appropriate treatments for CCS are still in the exploratory stage. This paper aims to improve the understanding of CCS and explore its best treatments by summarizing the common causes, clinical manifestations, endoscopic features, and treatment options of CCS.

Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome Associated with Metastatic Colon Cancer

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome is characterized by gastrointestinal and ectodermal manifestations. In this paper, we describe a 64-year-old Iranian male, presenting with Cronkhite-Canada syndrome with metastatic colon cancer. The patient was suffering from hair loss, which occurred on the scalp at first and then, during 5 months, extended to the whole body. After that, his sense of taste was impaired, and 2 months later, gastrointestinal symptoms gradually started, with weight loss of 20 kg over 2 months with an initial weight of 100 kg. Finally, he was admitted to our center 10 months after the onset of symptoms. On skin examination, generalized hair loss and hyperpigmentation and dysmorphic nail changes were observed. Multiple polyps within the colon and sigmoid were observed on colonoscopy. According to biopsies, a serrated adenoma and an invasive adenocarcinoma were reported in the ascending colon and sigmoid, respectively. Other polyps were pseudopolyps, and their characteristics were not significant. Computed tomography of the lungs and abdomen showed multiple adenopathies. On biopsy, metastatic adenocarcinoma was reported. The patient underwent chemotherapy with FOLFIRI and ERBITUX. Finally, after 5 courses of chemotherapy, his regimen was changed to FOLFOX and Avastin because of evidence of progression on computed tomography. The etiology of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome is currently unknown, and the optimal therapy has not been reported so far. This syndrome has many complications; the major of them is malignancy, and the prognosis is poor with a mortality rate of 50%. Therefore, annual monitoring is necessary in these patients.

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome associated with colon cancer metastatic to liver: A case report

RATIONALE

Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome (CCS) is an idiopathic, nonhereditary syndrome haracterized by gastrointestinal (GI) polyposis and ectodermal changes including alopecia, onychatrophia, and pigmentation. CCS colon polyps were previously considered to be benign neoplasms. However, serrated adenoma was reported to be associated with malignant neoplasms in some cases of gastric and colorectal carcinomas, and esophageal cancers. Although malignant colon and gastric cancer have been reported in CCS, reports of distant metastasis have been rare in CCS.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 58-year-old male was referred from a nearby hospital with diarrhea and weight loss. The patient was hypoproteinemia (17.9 g/L), and multiple polyps were observed in the large intestine. He also had alopecia, onychatrophia, and dysgeusia.

DIAGNOSES

The presence of multiple polyps and associated symptoms of alopecia, onychatrophia, pigmentation, and dysgeusia informed the diagnosis of CCS.

INTERVENTIONS

He was treated with 20mg dexamethasone acetate per day for about 3 months, 10 mg for about 9 month, 5 mg for about 1 year, and then maintained on 5 mg daily. Three years after starting treatment, colonoscopy revealed colon cancer and colon adenomas. A sigmoidectomy revealed 4 well-differentiated adenocarcinomas of the ulcerating type in the sigmoid colon, and tubularadenomas throughout the rest of the large intestine. He was treated with FOLFOX6 for 6 months. At this stage liver metastasis was found. A right hepatectomy was performed confirming hepatic metastasis of colonic adenocarcinoma, which was GPC-3(-), CD34(-), CK20(+), CDX-2(+), Hep(-), CK19(+), and CK8(+).The patient received 3 courses of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy.

OUTCOMES

The patient's status has been stable for more than 2 years, and there was no tumor recurrence or metastasis occurred.

LESSONS

CCS is a rare cause of multiple polyposis most often treated with hormone therapy. Regular follow-ups are very important to ensure discovery of malignant tumors at an early stage. Studies with longer-term observations and larger sample sizes will be required to confirm these observations. However, characterization of molecular markers for the early detection of malignant transformation that might allow less invasive and more cost-effective surveillance of colon cancer is urgently sought.

Gastric Hamartomatous Polyps-Review and Update

Gastric polyps are frequently encountered on endoscopic examinations. While many of these represent true epithelial lesions, some of the polyps may result from underlying stromal or lymphoid proliferations or even heterotopic tissue. Histologic examination is essential for accurate typing of the polyps to predict malignant potential and underlying possible genetic abnormalities. The focus of this review is on gastric hamartomatous polyps, which are relatively rare and diagnostically challenging. Though most of the gastric hamartomatous polyps are benign, certain types are associated with increased malignant potential. These include certain polyps associated with specific genetic familial polyposis syndromes and gastric inverted hamartomatous polyps. Identification of these polyps can result in the prevention or early diagnosis of gastric carcinoma and also help in the identification of family members with polyposis syndromes. The aim of this review is to categorize gastric hamartomatous polyps and aid in the identification of high-risk categories.

Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome Complicated by Triple Primary Cancers

We herein report a case of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) complicated with triple primary cancers. The patient was diagnosed with CCS at 65 years of age. At 76 years of age, one of his colon polyps was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma. At 81 years of age, gastric carcinoma was detected. Weight loss and fatigue appeared one month before he visited our hospital. An examination revealed dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct. Cholangiocarcinoma was diagnosed as a result of bile duct cytology. Patients with CCS should be monitored carefully for carcinoma of systemic organs as well as the gastrointestinal tract.