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$Unique_ID{BRK03762}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Gardner's Syndrome}
$Subject{Gardner's Syndrome Intestinal Polyposis III
Polyposis-Osteomatosis-Epidermoid Cyst Syndrome Bone Tumor-Epidermoid
Cyst-Polyposis}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990 National Organization for Rare
Disorders, Inc.
152:
Gardner's Syndrome
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible that the main title of the article (Gardner's Syndrome) is
not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find
alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Intestinal Polyposis III
Polyposis-Osteomatosis-Epidermoid Cyst Syndrome
Bone Tumor-Epidermoid Cyst-Polyposis
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section.
Gardner Syndrome is a hereditary condition characterized by colonic
polyposis (multiple, benign growths, or polyps, on the mucosal lining of the
colon), bony tumors of the skull, fatty cysts in the skin, and often, extra
teeth. Patients with Gardner Syndrome have a high probability of developing
colonic cancer during their middle years.
Symptoms
Gardner Syndrome appears during late childhood or after puberty. Numerous
polyps develop on the mucosal lining of the large intestine (colon). These
are commonly accompanied by rectal bleeding, and sometimes by diarrhea or
constipation, recurrent abdominal pain, weight loss, and occasionally the
prolapse of a polyp through the anus. Persistent rectal bleeding can result
in secondary anemia.
Fibrous, fatty tumors and cysts develop in the skin, and bony tumors
develop in the skull and mandible (jaw bone). Soft tissue tumors also
develop in the mesentery, a membrane that connects the intraabdominal organs.
Patients often have supernumerary teeth, usually impacted. Occasionally,
tumors develop in other sites.
Untreated patients have a very high probability of developing intestinal
malignancies by their early forties.
Causes
Gardner Syndrome is inherited through an autosomal dominant mechanism.
Evidence has been found that the gene for transmission of Gardner Syndrome is
located on chromosome 5. (Human traits including the classic genetic
diseases, are the product of the interaction of two genes for that condition,
one received from the father and one from the mother. In dominant disorders,
a single copy of the disease gene (received from either the mother or father)
will be expressed "dominating" the normal gene and resulting in appearance of
the disease. The risk of transmitting the disorder from affected parent to
offspring is 50% for each pregnancy regardless of the sex of the resulting
child.)
Related Disorders
Gardner Syndrome is related to several other syndromes in which familial
hereditary polyposis of the colon plays a part. Familial adenomatous colon
polyposis consists of polyposis unassociated with other abnormalities, but
with a very high incidence of colonic cancer if untreated. In Peutz-Jeghers
syndrome, numerous polyps in the stomach and small and large intestines are
associated with discoloration of the skin and mucous surfaces. The Canada
Cronkhite syndrome combines familial polyposis with abnormalities of the
structures derived from the embryonic ectodermal layer. In Turcot syndrome,
familial polyposis occurs with tumors in the central nervous system.
For more information on the above disorders, choose "Adenomatous Colon,"
"Peutz," and "Canada-Cronkhite" as your search terms in the Rare Disease
Database.
Therapies: Standard
In Gardner Syndrome the aim of therapy is to prevent cancer. Surgical
removal of the rectum and colon accomplishes this definitively. Removal of
only the colon, with anastomosis of the end of the small intestine and the
rectum is a less drastic operation, and is favored for that reason. Polyps
that appear after surgery should be removed. If they reappear in great
numbers, remaining parts of the rectum have to be resected.
Members of patients' families should be screened for the disorder, as
they have a high probability of developing it.
Therapies: Investigational
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through April
1990. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every
entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please
check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current
information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Gardner Syndrome, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
Box NDIC
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 498-2162
American Cancer Society
1599 Clifton Rd., NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 320-3333
NIH/National Cancer Institute
9000 Rockville Pike, Bldg. 31, Rm. 1A2A
Bethesda, MD 20892
1-800-4-CANCER
The National Cancer Institute has developed PDQ (Physician Data Query), a
computerized database designed to give doctors quick and easy access to many
types of information vital to treating patients with this and many other
types of cancer. To gain access to this service, a doctor can contact the
Cancer Information Service offices at 1-800-4-CANCER. Information
specialists at this toll-free number can answer questions about cancer
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
For information on genetics and genetic counseling referrals, please
contact:
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
(914) 428-7100
Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(800) 336-GENE
(301) 652-5553
References
THE METABOLIC BASIS OF INHERITED DISEASE, 6th ed.: Charles R. Scriver,
et al.; eds., McGraw Hill, 1989. P. 362.
THE MERCK MANUAL 15th ed: R. Berkow, et al: eds; Merck, Sharp & Dohme
Research Laboratories, 1987. P. 817.
CECIL TEXTBOOK OF MEDICINE, 18th ed.: James B. Wyngaarden, and Lloyd H.
Smith, Jr., Eds.: W. B. Saunders Co., 1988. Pp. 767-71, 2337.