title: Cowden disease or multiple hamartoma syndrome--cutaneous clue to internal malignancy.
abstract: Cowden disease (CD) #158350, also known as multiple hamartoma syndrome, is a multisystemic cancer predisposition disorder, inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Mucocutaneous lesions are the most constant features: facial papules, acral keratoses and oral papillomatosis. The most common associated cancers are breast, thyroid and endometrial carcinomas. The CD gene locus has been mapped to chromosome 10q22-23. Subsequently the tumor suppressor gene PTEN was located to this chromosomal region and soon after germline mutations in the PTEN gene were demonstrated in CD patients. Somatic PTEN mutations have been found in a variety of sporadic cancers. So CD is an important clinical and genetic model for carcinogenesis. We recently observed four cases of CD and reviewed the literature on CD over the last 40 years, in particular the clinical and histopathological features, genetics, and diagnostic criteria. Based on these data we propose a possible management of CD patients. With increased knowledge and awareness of the typical mucocutaneous lesions an earlier diagnosis and an appropriate cancer surveillance of these patients might be possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland. bohns@bluewin.ch
authors.forename: Susanna K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Fistarol
authors.forename: Marc D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Anliker
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Itin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D004701:Endocrine Gland Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006223:Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology