title: Hamartomatous polyposis syndromes.
abstract: Hamartomas are tumour-like malformations, consisting of disorganized normal tissues, typical of the site of tumour manifestation. Familial manifestation of hamartomatous polyps can be noted in juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS), Peutz-Jeghers' syndrome (PJS), hereditary mixed polyposis syndrome (HMPS) and PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome (PHTS). All the aforementioned syndromes are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner and form a rather heterogenous group both in respect to the number and localization of polyps and the risk of cancer development in the alimentary tract and other organs. Individual syndromes of hamartomatous polyposis frequently manifest similar symptoms, particularly during the early stage of the diseases when in several cases their clinical pictures do not allow for differential diagnosis. The correct diagnosis of the disease using molecular methods allows treatment to be implemented earlier and therefore more effectively since it is followed by a strict monitoring of organs that manifest a predisposition for neoplastic transformation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, Poznan, 60-479, Poland. andp@man.poznan.pl.
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stojcev
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borun
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hermann
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krokowicz
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cichy
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kubaszewski
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Banasiewicz
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plawski