Carcinoma of the thyroid gland and Gardner's syndrome.
A patient known to be suffering from Gardner's syndrome who developed carcinoma of the thyroid gland is presented. A review of the literature reveals that this relationship is not fortuitous and that it has the following characteristics: female predominance (89%), youth (< 30 years in 78%), papillary form (88%), multicentricity (70%) and thyroid carcinoma preceding diagnosis of hereditary polyposis in 30%. Hereditary polyposis patients affected by familial polyposis coli are at significant risk of developing extracolonic malignant tumours, and require life-long surveillance. Palpation of the thyroid gland and possibly ultrasound examination of the neck should be part of the routine follow up of these patients.
Department of General Surgery, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
M D
MD
Kelly
T B
TB
Hugh
A S
AS
Field
R
R
Fitzsimons
D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D005736:Gardner Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics