Cronkhite-Canada syndrome: a rare case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome (CCS) is a rare non-inherited disease characterized by gastrointestinal polyposis and ectodermal abnormalities, the estimated incidence is about one per million. Recognizing and curing the disorder face great challenge. CASE PRESENTATION: This report refers to a Chinese 52 year old man with gastrointestinal symptoms and ectodermal abnormalities. Gastrointestinal symptoms occurred without obvious cause, followed by ectodermal abnormalities after two months. In several hospitals, endoscopy examinations found numerous polypoid lesions in various sizes spreading over the stomach and the entire colon and rectum, histopathological examinations showed inflammatory and adenomatous polyp. In our hospital, both endoscopy and the contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of small intestine showed gastrointestinal polyposis. Gastric antrum and the colon biopsy samples suggested hyperplastic and inflammatory polyp respectively. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) suggested gastric wall thickening. Fujinnon intelligent color enhancement (FICE) revealed that the size of gastric glands pit varied, and vessels were visible. Confocal endoscope showed increased glandular epithelium layers. Magnifying narrow-band imaging endoscopy (ME-NBI) detected that pit pattern in the mucous of the polyp were regular and type III-IV of microvessels were seen. Biochemical investigations showed anemia, hypoalbuminemia and electrolyte disturbance. IgG, IgA and C3 decreased. Anti-ribosomal phosphoprotein is weak positive. The patient was given nutritional support treatment. Gstrointestinal symptoms and hyperpigmentation improved gradually. CONCLUSION: The patient was ever hospitalized in four hospitals and was diagnosed with CCS after 8 months of gastrointestinal symptoms. So when encountering the patient with gastrointestinal polyposis and ectodermal abnormalities, try to take CCS into consideration. Due to its low incidence, no standard therapy regimen has been established so far. However, nutritional support treatment is of great significance.