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.
Kelly
M D
MD
Department of General Surgery, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Hugh
T B
TB
Field
A S
AS
Fitzsimons
R
R
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