Search

Goals and Background: Phosphatase and tensin homolog hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) is an inherited disorder that increases the risk for cancer in multiple organ systems, including breast, endometrial, thyroid, and the gastrointestinal tract. Surveillance is recommended however there lacks data to describe the change in polyposis phenotype and cancer incidence over surveillance. Our aim is to describe the polyposis phenotype and cancer incidence in PHTS patients undergoing endoscopic surveillance. Study: PHTS patients, ages 17 through 89, who underwent at least 2 esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDs) or colonoscopies were identified. Number and sizes of polyps were noted, from which 5 categories were recreated. Incidence of colorectal and gastric cancer was evaluated. Results: Seventy patients were included. Patients were clustered and classified into 1 of 5 categories: no polyps, few small polyps (

Clinicians may be hesitant to prescribe biologics or immunomodulators to individuals with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and comorbid inflammatory disease (CID) because of increased cancer risk. Our aim was to compare the risk of malignancy in FAP individuals with inflammatory bowel (IBD) and/or rheumatic disease that received biologics/immunomodulators to those who did not. Individuals with FAP and CID were included in the study. We compared the incidence of cancer between individuals exposed to biologics/immunomodulators compared to unexposed from the date of diagnosis of comorbid disease till last follow up or death. Hazard ratio (HR) for cancer was computed using Cox regression model and compared by exposure status to biologic/immunomodulators. 25 individuals with FAP and a comorbid inflammatory disease were identified including 9 (36%) with IBD and 16 (64%) with rheumatic disease. 14 (56%) were exposed to a biologic and or immunomodulator. Median duration of biologic/immunomodulator exposure was 48 (2-180) months. 3 (21.4%) in the exposed group compared to 1 (9.1%) in the unexposed group developed cancer with a HR for exposure of 1.92 (CI 0.2-18.5, p = 0.57). Median duration of follow up after the diagnosis of inflammatory disease was 10 (5.5-17.0) years in the exposed and 6 (3.0-15.0) years in the unexposed group. In the exposed group, 1 patient developed gastric and 2 developed colon cancer. One unexposed patient developed medullary thyroid cancer. There is a possible trend of more cancers in the group that received biologics/immunomodulators-but given the small number of patients and p-value, there may be no difference at all. This preliminary finding warrants study in a larger cohort.

Background and Aims Gastric cancer is an extracolonic manifestation of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and is associated with high-risk gastric polyps. There are no known endoscopic criteria to identify these high-risk polyps. Our aim was to develop endoscopic criteria to identify high-risk polyps on endoscopy in FAP. Methods We prospectively collected 150 gastric polyps in consecutive patients undergoing surveillance EGD at the Cleveland Clinic. Pictures were taken of each polyp under narrow-band imaging and high-definition white light. In an exploratory phase, 5 endoscopists developed consensus criteria using the images to distinguish high-risk (pyloric gland adenoma, tubular adenoma, hyperplastic) from low-risk (fundic gland with low-grade or no dysplasia) polyps. In the assessment phase, endoscopists were blinded to polyp pathology and used the criteria to predict the individual polyp risk category. To measure diagnostic accuracy, we reported the mean sensitivity, specificity, and interrater agreement (κ). Results Consensus criteria were developed based on 16 low-risk and 9 high-risk polyps. The final 149 polyps consisted of 128 low-risk and 22 high-risk polyps (1 polyp was excluded from analysis). Using the criteria, the 5 endoscopists distinguished high- from low-risk polyps with a mean sensitivity and specificity of 79% (16.3%) and 78.8% (10.8%), respectively. The κ coefficient was .45, indicating moderate agreement. Conclusions We developed endoscopic criteria to distinguish between high- and low-risk polyps associated with gastric cancer in FAP. The criteria provide guidance to endoscopists in targeting high-risk polyps while surveying the stomach of patients with proximal gastric polyposis.

BACKGROUND Almost all patients with familial adenomatous polyposis undergo abdominal surgery with a risk of disease and surgery-related complications. This, the familial nature of the syndrome, and its wide-ranging manifestations make patients prone to mental health symptoms. If this is true, patients need appropriate evaluation and treatment. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to record the experience of mental health symptoms in a group of unselected patients with FAP. DESIGN We conducted an observational study using an anonymized mental health symptom survey for patients affected with familial adenomatous polyposis. SETTINGS The study was conducted using the Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Registry in a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Patients affected with familial adenomatous polyposis were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Results of the mental health survey were measured. RESULTS Seventy nine of 100 patients completed the survey; 57 endorsed ≥1 psychosocial symptom (72.2%). with a mean of 4 per patient. Nine patients (11.4%) met all 4 of the American Psychiatric Association diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder, and 8 (10.1%) endorsed partial posttraumatic stress disorder criteria (3/4 symptoms). Patients who met all of the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder had an average of 9.3 psychosocial symptoms each compared with 8.3 for those who met 3 of 4 and 2.2 for those who met

BACKGROUND Individuals with Lynch syndrome (LS) and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) are at increased risk of both colorectal cancer and other cancers. The interplay between immunosuppression, a comorbid inflammatory condition (CID), and HNPCC on cancer risk is unclear. AIM To evaluate the impact of CIDs, and exposure to monoclonal antibodies and immunomodulators, on cancer risk in individuals with HNPCC. METHODS Individuals prospectively followed in a hereditary cancer registry with LS/HNPCC with the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease or rheumatic disease were identified. We compared the proportion of patients with cancer in LS/HNPCC group with and without a CID. We also compared the proportion of patients who developed cancer following a CID diagnosis based upon exposure to immunosuppressive medications. RESULTS A total of 21 patients with LS/HNPCC and a CID were compared to 43 patients with LS/HNPCC but no CID. Cancer occurred in 84.2% with a CID compared to 76.7% without a CID (P = 0.74) with no difference in age at first cancer diagnosis 45.5 ± 14.6 vs 43.8 ± 7.1 years (P = 0.67). LS specific cancers were diagnosed in 52.4% with a CID vs 44.2% without a CID (P = 0.54). Nine of 21 (42.9%) patients were exposed to biologics or immunomodulators for the treatment of their CID. Cancer after diagnosis of CID was seen in 7 (77.8%) of exposed individuals vs 5 (41.7%) individuals unexposed to biologics/immunomodulators (P = 0.18). All 7 exposed compared to 3/5 unexposed developed a LS specific cancer. The exposed and unexposed groups were followed for a median 10 years and 8.5 years, respectively. The hazard ratio for cancer with medication exposure was 1.59 (P = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.5-5.1). CONCLUSION In patients with LS/HNPCC, the presence of a concurrent inflammatory condition, or use of immunosuppressive medication to treat the inflammatory condition, might not increase the rate of cancer occurrence in this limited study.

Background: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a condition typically caused by pathogenic germline mutations in the APC gene. In addition to colon polyps, individuals with FAP have a substantially increased risk of developing papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Little is known about the events underlying this association, and the prevalence of somatic "second-hit" mutations in APC is controversial. Methods: Whole-genome sequencing was performed on paired thyroid tumor and normal DNA from 12 FAP patients who developed PTC. Somatic mutation profiles were compared with clinical characteristics and previously sequenced sporadic PTC cases. Germline variant profiling was performed to assess the prevalence of variants in genes previously shown to have a role in PTC predisposition. Results: All 12 patients harbored germline mutations in APC, consistent with FAP. Seven patients also had somatic mutations in APC, and seven patients harbored somatic mutations in KMT2D, which encodes a lysine methyl transferase. Mutation of these genes is extremely rare in sporadic PTCs. Notably, only two of the tumors harbored the somatic BRAF p.V600E mutation, which is the most common driver mutation found in sporadic PTCs. Six tumors displayed a cribriform-morular variant of PTC (PTC-CMV) histology, and all six had somatic mutations in APC. Additionally, nine FAP-PTC patients had rare germline variants in genes that were previously associated with thyroid carcinoma. Conclusions: Our data indicate that FAP-associated PTCs typically have distinct mutations compared with sporadic PTCs. Roughly half of the thyroid cancers that arise in FAP patients have somatic "second-hits" in APC, which is associated with PTC-CMV histology. Somatic BRAF p.V600E variants also occur in some FAP patients, a novel finding. We speculate that in carriers of heterozygous pathogenic mutations of tumor suppressor genes such as APC, a cooperating second-hit somatic variant may occur in a different gene such as KTM2D or BRAF, leading to differences in phenotypes. The role of germline variance in genes other than APC (9 of the 12 patients in this series) needs further research.

Background & Aims Ampullary and duodenal cancer are the leading causes of death in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) after colectomy has been performed. Risk of duodenal cancer is determined based on Spigelman stage (SS) of duodenal polyposis. Guidelines recommend endoscopic surveillance of the duodenum and visualization of the papilla to stage duodenal polyposis. There is no consensus on whether biopsies should be routinely collected from duodenal papilla and findings included in SS. Additionally, there are no data on the risk of pancreatitis after biopsy collection from papilla of patients with FAP. We studied the incidence of pancreatitis after biopsy of the papilla in patients with FAP and effects of biopsy findings on SS. Methods We identified consecutive patients with FAP at a single center from January 2011 through December 2018 with ≥1 endoscopy with biopsy of the papilla. Patients with history of foregut surgery were excluded. We identified 273 patients with FAP who had biopsies collected from papilla over 792 EGDs, with 1–8 independent exams with biopsy per patient. We collected demographic, endoscopic, and histology data from patients and calculated SS with vs without biopsy findings. Post-procedural pancreatitis was defined by 2 of the following: abdominal pain, lipase level 3-fold the upper limit of normal, or radiography findings consistent with pancreatitis within 7 days of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Results Pancreatitis developed in 2 patients (0.73%): 1 after biopsy of a normal-appearing papilla and 1 after biopsy of an abnormal appearing papilla. Inclusions of biopsy data increased SS in 36 patients (13.2%), with consideration of prophylactic duodenectomy for 3.3%. Conclusions Pancreatitis after biopsy of the duodenal papilla is rare. Histology data obtained from biopsy of the papilla in patients with FAP can change SS and affect patient management.

To evaluate the prevalence, natural history, and severity of polyposis of the duodenal bulb and jejunum after duodenectomy in patients with FAP.Advanced duodenal polyposis stage in FAP requires consideration of duodenal resection to prevent cancer; pylorus-preserving approach of pancreas-sparing duodenectomy (PSD) is preferred. Post-duodenectomy data indicate polyps occur in the duodenal bulb and the post-anastomotic jejunum, but limited data exists regarding their significance.We identified consecutive FAP patients After duodenal resection, including pancreaticoduodenectomy, PSD, or segmental duodenectomy, at Cleveland Clinic. Medical records were used to determine time to diagnosis of duodenal bulb or jejunal polyps, length of follow up, and severity of polyposis including maximal Spigelman stage (SS) of jejunal polyposis (neo-SS).64 patients with FAP underwent duodenectomy and endoscopic follow up. 28% underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, 61% PSD, and 11% segmental duodenectomy. Postoperatively, 38/64 (59%) were diagnosed with jejunal polyposis, with median time to diagnosis of 55 months and follow up time of 127 months. Jejunal polyposis was advanced in 21% (neo- SS III or IV). Fifty percent were treated endoscopically, 1 patient required surgery. Jejunal polyp-free survival after duodenectomy differed by surgery type (P = 0.008). A total of 55/64 patients underwent a pylorus-preserving procedure, and 6/55 (11%) developed duodenal bulb polyps. All bulb polyps were large (20 mm) and found after PSD. Endoscopic resection was unsuccessful in 5 patients, but no surgical intervention was required.Polyposis occurs in the remaining duodenal and jejunal mucosa in the majority of patients after surgical duodenectomy. Jejunal polyposis is advanced in 1 in 5 patients, but rarely requires surgery. Endoscopic management of jejunal polyposis seems feasible but has proven difficult for duodenal bulb polyps.

INTRODUCCION El Registro de Cancer Colorrectal Hereditario es uno de los registros mas antiguos y mas grandes de su tipo. Incluye a los pacientes con todos los sindromes hereditarios de cancer colorrectal, utilizando los tres enfoques basicos, la atencion al paciente, la educacion y la investigacion. Este articulo resume la estructura y funcion del registro, y da ejemplos de sus contribuciones al manejo de los pacientes afectados. ACTIVIDAD En el ano 2016 el registro atendio a mas de 1000 familias con poliposis adenomatosa familiar, 224 familias con sindrome de Lynch, 61 con poliposis asociada a MYH y 146 con poliposis hamartomatosa. En el ano 2016 hubo 1009 visitas de pacientes con 80 nuevos pacientes y 879 endoscopias. Se realizaron mas de 60 cirugias. RESUMEN Se describe el enfoque de “Cleveland Clinic” para el cancer colorrectal hereditario. Esto es multidisciplinario, involucrando varias especialidades y asi como servicios de asesoramiento genetico y de salud mental dentro del registro.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a newly described cancer risk in Western patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Little is known about clinical, endoscopic, and pathologic features associated with FAP-related GC. We compared these features in FAP patients with and without GC.FAP patients were identified through the David G. Jagelman Inherited Colorectal Cancer Registries Cologene database. FAP patients with GC and randomly selected FAP patients without GC who had undergone at least 2 EGDs were analyzed. Demographic, clinical, endoscopic, and pathologic features were compared.Ten FAP patients with GC were identified, and 40 age-matched FAP control subjects were selected. No demographic differences were noted between patients and control subjects. All GC cases arose in the proximal stomach among gastric polyposis, with only 2 endoscopically visible. The prevalence of gastric polyposis was similar (100% vs 93%). Endoscopic features associated with GC included a carpeting of gastric polyps (100% vs 22.5%), solitary polyps20 mm (100% vs 0%), and a polypoid mound of polyps (80% vs 0%; all P .001). GC patients had a higher prevalence of gastric adenomas (30% vs 5%, P = .048) and polyps with high-grade dysplasia, including fundic gland polyps (50% vs 10%, P = .01) and pyloric gland adenomas (20% vs 0%, P = .037).We identified endoscopic features and advanced pathology present in the stomachs of Western patients with FAP who developed GC. Upper GI surveillance in FAP should include the stomach and awareness of features associated with GC. Optimal approaches to treatment of gastric polyposis and methods of identification of early GC precursors in FAP are needed.

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a hereditary cancer syndrome associated with a substantial lifetime risk for colorectal cancer. The leading extra-colonic causes of cancer in FAP include duodenal and thyroid cancer (TC). Recent guidelines recommend annual thyroid ultrasound (TUS) screening beginning in the teenage years but the evidence to support the interval particularly in FAP patients with a normal baseline ultrasound is lacking. TUS results from FAP patients enrolled in a thyroid screening program from 2006 to 2016 and who had at least 2 TUS were reviewed. TUS findings were classified as normal, low (LR) or high risk (HR) for TC based on nodule characteristics as determined by American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines. We assessed the incidence of TC in patient with normal baseline TUS and factors associated with TC. 264 FAP patients were included. Baseline TUS was normal in 167, LR in 74, and HR in 24 patients. Patients were observed for a mean 4.8 years and underwent an average of 3 TUS. Patients with normal baseline TUS did not develop TC during the course of follow up of 5.1 years. TC developed in 6 patients (2.3%) all with baseline nodules; 5 in the LR group and 1 in the HR group. Factors associated with development of TC were presence of baseline nodule(s) and female sex. The development of TC in FAP patients in a TUS screening program with short term follow up is low and no FAP patient with a normal baseline TUS developed TC during observation. Annual TUS in patients with a normal baseline TUS may not be needed. Extending the screening interval to 2 years may be reasonable until nodules are detected.

Proctocolectomy prevents colorectal cancer in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Colorectal polyp progression is one of the indications for surgery. No data exist regarding the natural history of colorectal polyposis in young patients with FAP. This study examined the rate of polyposis progression and factors associated with it.Patients with FAP 30 years old who had undergone ≥2 colonoscopies since 2000 were identified. Rate of polyposis progression was calculated by review of polyp counts obtained from baseline and last colonoscopy, accounting for any polyps removed during the observation period. Endoscopic and non-endoscopic factors affecting the rate of polyposis progression were evaluated. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors associated with rate of polyposis progression.One hundred sixty-eight patients (52% female; median age, 13.5 years) were included. Median rate of polyposis progression was 25.4 polyps/year (interquartile range, 9.5-69.8). Highest median rate of polyposis progression (89 polyps/year) was associated with mutation in codon 1309. The rate of polyposis progression was independently associated with the location of mutation in the adenomatous polyposis coli gene, the number of polyps at the initial colonoscopy, and exposure to chemoprevention. Of the 39.9% of patients who underwent surgery, an increase in polyp number was the most common indication (53.7%).The rate of polyposis progression in young patients with FAP varies with a median of about 25 new polyps per year. Progression is associated with distinct factors, which can be used in discussion with patients regarding the need for and timing of prophylactic colorectal surgery.

The timing of prophylactic colorectal surgery in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is based on the immediacy of the colorectal cancer risk. The ability to predict the need for surgery may help patients and their families plan in the context of life events and CRC risk. We created a model to predict the likelihood of surgery within 2 and 5 years of first colonoscopy at our institution. A single institution hereditary colorectal syndrome (Cologene™) database was interrogated for all patients with FAP having a deleterious APC mutation. Patients with first colonoscopy after age 30 and before year 2000 were excluded. Cox regression analysis was done to assess multiple factors associated with surgery, followed by stepwise Cox regression analysis to select an optimal model. Receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the model. A total of 211 (53% female) patients were included. Forty-five percent underwent surgery after an average of 3.8 years of surveillance. The final model was created based on initial clinical characteristics (age, gender, BMI, family history of desmoids, genotype–phenotype correlation), initial colonoscopic characteristics (number of polyps, polyp size, presence of high-grade dysplasia); and on clinical events (chemoprevention and polypectomy). AUC was 0.87 and 0.84 to predict surgery within 2 and 5 years, respectively. The final model can be accessed at this website: http://app.calculoid.com/#/calculator/29638 . This web-based tool allows clinicians to stratify patients’ likelihood of colorectal surgery within 2 and 5 years of their initial examination, based on clinical and endoscopic features, and using the philosophy of care guiding practice at this institution.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is characterized by abnormal vascular structures that may present as epistaxis, telangiectasias, and/or arteriovenous malformations. The genes associated with HHT (ACVRL1, ENG, and SMAD4) are members of the TGFβ pathway. Other syndromes associated with abnormalities in TGFβ signaling include Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome and related disorders. These disorders have aortic disease as a prominent finding. While there are case reports of patients with HHT and aortopathy (dilatation/aneurysm, dissection, and rupture), this has not been systematically investigated. We conducted a retrospective chart review to determine the prevalence of aortopathy in an HHT cohort. Patients from a single institution were identified who met the Curacao Criteria for a clinical diagnosis of HHT and/or had a mutation in ACVRL1, ENG, or SMAD4 and underwent echocardiogram. Two-dimensional echocardiograms were reviewed by a single pediatric cardiologist, and data were collected on demographics, genotype, HHT features, aortic root measurements, past medical history, and family history. Z scores and nomograms were utilized to identify abnormal results. Twenty-six patients from 15 families (one ACVRL1, four ENG, eight SMAD4, and two clinical diagnoses) were included in the analysis. Aortopathy was found in 6/26 (23%) patients; all had SMAD4 mutations. In our cohort, 6/16 (38%) SMAD4 mutation carriers had evidence of aortopathy. These data suggest that aortopathy could be part of the spectrum of SMAD4-induced HHT manifestations. Routine aortic imaging, including measurements of the aorta, should be considered in patients with SMAD4 mutations to allow for appropriate medical and surgical recommendations.

Desmoid disease can be a serious, life-threatening complication of familial adenomatous polyposis. The ability to predict patients at increased desmoid risk is important, but a convincing genotype-phenotype correlation for desmoid formation has not yet been described.The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between desmoid disease and genotype in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis.This is a cohort study.All patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and a documented pathogenic APC mutation in themselves or a first-degree relative were selected.The comparison of genotype and the presence, stage, and site of desmoid disease are the primary end points of this study.Three hundred twenty-three patients from 219 families were identified. Mutations spanned the length of the gene, from codon 213 to codon 2051. Desmoid disease was diagnosed in 77 patients from 68 families. Desmoid disease was found in 14.9% of patients with a mutation 5' of codon 400, 23.2% of patients with a mutation from codon 401 to 1400, and in 37.1% of those with a mutation 3' of 1400. All patients with 5' mutations had stage I or II abdominal desmoid disease, and all tumors were stable or shrinking. Twelve percent of patients who had desmoid disease with mutations between codons 400 and 1400 had stage III or IV desmoid disease, and 5 of 42 (12%) tumors were growing at the time of the study. There had been 2 desmoid-related deaths. Almost half (44%) of patients who had desmoid disease with mutations 3' of codon 1400 had stage III or IV disease. Three of 14 tumors were growing (21%), and there were 4 desmoid-related deaths.This study was conducted at a tertiary referral center, and there was no systematic surveillance for desmoids.Desmoid disease occurs in patients who have familial adenomatous polyposis with almost any APC mutation, although there is an increased propensity in those with a 3' mutation. The incidence and severity of the desmoid disease are related to the site of the mutation.

The highest cancer risks in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) include colorectal, duodenal, and thyroid for which surveillance is recommended. Nearly all patients with FAP have gastric fundic gland polyposis (FGP), but gastric cancers are rarely reported with a similar incidence as the general population. We describe a recent, sudden increase in the incidence of gastric cancer in FAP. Seven of the ten cases were diagnosed in the last 20 months. Comparing our population to the SEER database for gastric cancer, the standardized incidence ratio is 140. All cases arose in patients with a carpeting of FGP and associated with large mounds of proximal gastric polyps. Nearly all patients were under upper endoscopic surveillance. This is a concerning observation and reflects a change in the phenotypic presentation of FAP in Western patients.

OBJECTIVES: Duodenal cancer in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) arises from adenomas. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the duodenal adenoma-carcinoma pathway have been identified in murine FAP models, but similar data in patients with FAP are limited. Identifying such changes may have significance in understanding duodenal polyposis therapies and identifying cancer biomarkers. We performed a genome-wide transcriptional analysis to describe the duodenal adenoma-carcinoma sequence and determine changes distinguishing patients with FAP with and without duodenal cancer. METHODS: Transcriptional profiling was performed with the Affymetrix Human Transcriptome Array 2.0 on duodenal biopsies from 12 FAP patients with duodenal cancer (FAP cases) and 12 FAP patients without cancer (FAP controls). DEGs were compared between cancer-normal, adenoma-normal, and cancer-adenoma in FAP cases and between adenomas from FAP cases and FAP controls. Significant results at P < 0.05 were filtered using fold change > 2. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-four DEGs were identified at an absolute fold change > 2. In adenoma-normal, downregulation of DEGs involved in metabolism of brush border proteins (LCT), lipids (APOB/A4), reactive oxygen species (GSTA2), and retinol (RBP2) was observed. In the cancer-adenoma comparison, upregulation of DEGs involved in cell invasion/migration (POSTN, SPP1) and downregulation of DEGs involved in Paneth differentiation (DEFA5/6) were observed. In the adenoma-adenoma comparison, downregulation of several DEGs (CLCA1, ADH1C, ANXA10) in FAP case adenomas was observed. DEGs with therapeutic potential include SPP1, which is involved in both cyclooxygenase and epidermal growth factor receptor pathways targeted by the sulindac/erlotinib combination for duodenal polyposis. DISCUSSION: We describe DEGs in the human duodenal adenoma-carcinoma sequence in FAP, which may have prognostic and therapeutic significance. Validation studies are needed to confirm these findings.

The greatest known risk factor for duodenal cancer in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is Spigelman stage (SS) IV duodenal polyposis. Endoscopic surveillance is recommended in FAP patients with SS 0 to IV, and prophylactic duodenectomy should be considered in SS IV. Cancer occurs in patients without SS IV polyposis. We assessed the relationship of SS and other factors with duodenal cancer in FAP.We performed a case-control study on 18 FAP patients with duodenal cancer and 85 randomly selected FAP control subjects with similar age characteristics. Demographic, clinical, and endoscopic features were compared using univariate and logistic regression analyses to assess factors associated with duodenal cancer.Fifty-three percent of cases had no SS IV history. SS components positively associated with cancer included duodenal polyp size (77% vs 47%, P = .015), and high-grade dysplasia (HGD; 29% vs 6%, P = .003) but not polyp number or histology. In the papilla, the frequency of tubulovillous or villous histology (80% vs 22%, P .001) and HGD (30% vs 4%, P = .010) was greater in cases than control subjects.SS IV polyposis was absent in half of FAP patients with duodenal cancer. Only 2 of 4 SS components (large duodenal polyp size and HGD) were positively associated with duodenal cancer. Advanced pathology of the papilla appears to be an important feature. Revision of SS to emphasize these findings should be considered to better estimate cancer risk.

Since first characterized in 1997, patients with hereditary mixed polyposis syndrome (HMPS) have been difficult to identify because of lack of well-established diagnostic criteria. Recently, HMPS was found to be caused by a duplication on chromosome 15 spanning the 3' end of the SCG5 gene and a region upstream of the GREM1 locus. Clinical testing for the duplication is available; however, the clinical characteristics of hereditary mixed polyposis to support testing are ill defined. The clinicopathological findings of 10 HMPS patients with confirmed germline SCG5-GREM1 duplication were reviewed. Mean age at presentation was 33.3 years. Fifty-one colonoscopies yielded 207 polyp specimens, all of which were reexamined. Adenomas (n = 80) and a fairly unique polyp composed of a mixture of hyperplastic polyp and inflammatory polyp-type changes (n = 74) were the most common findings; however, other polyps, including hyperplastic (n = 28), mixed inflammatory polyp/adenoma (n = 8), inflammatory polyp (n = 7), prolapse-type polyp (n = 6), and lymphoid aggregates (n = 4), were encountered. None of the patients developed colorectal malignancy during surveillance, demonstrated extracolonic manifestations, or underwent colectomy on follow-up (mean, 26.2 years). SCG5-GREM1 duplication-associated polyposis is characterized by a few polyps per endoscopy with a mixture of phenotypes, most commonly adenoma and nondysplastic mixed hyperplastic/inflammatory polyps. Nine of 10 patients had at least 1 mixed hyperplastic-inflammatory polyp, which is the characteristic lesion of SCG5-GREM1 duplication-associated HMPS.

Hyperplastic polyposis syndrome is a rare syndrome of colorectal cancer predisposition. Patterns of inheritance of hyperplastic polyposis syndrome are not obvious and the clinical definition is relatively arbitrary. We hypothesize that there are multiple phenotypes included in what is currently called hyperplastic polyposis syndrome. We performed this review of a large series of patients who presented with multiple serrated polyps to look for clinical patterns that may confirm our hypothesis.Hereditary colorectal cancer, colonoscopy, and clinical databases from a single institution were queried for patients meeting the following criteria: 1) ≥ 20 serrated colorectal polyps; 2) ≥ 5 serrated polyps proximal to the sigmoid; 3) ≥ 2 serrated polyps ≥ 10 mm in size; 4) any serrated polyps in a person with at least one first-degree relative who has hyperplastic polyposis syndrome. Records were reviewed for demographics, polyp details, and personal or family history of colorectal extracolonic malignancy.One-hundred fifteen patients were included. Median age at diagnosis was 62 years and 56% were male. Ninety-seven percent were white. Twenty-five percent of patients had a personal history and 38% had a family history of colorectal cancer. Twenty-eight percent of patients had a personal history and 54% had a family history of extracolonic cancer. Phenotype analysis identified 3 patterns: relatively few large, right-sided polyps (n = 55), many small left-sided polyps (n = 18), and a combination of both left- and right-sided polyps (n = 42). The right-sided phenotype had more sessile serrated polyps and tended to develop colorectal cancer at a younger age.There are at least 3 different but overlapping clinical phenotypes within hyperplastic polyposis. Recognizing this clinical heterogeneity is important in defining underlying genetic causes.

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a hereditary colon cancer syndrome that involves multiple extracolonic organs, including the thyroid. Several studies have estimated the rate of thyroid cancer in FAP to occur at five times the rate of the general population, but no current consensus defines screening for thyroid cancer in this cohort. This study seeks to define the features of benign and malignant thyroid disease in FAP patients, to compare thyroid cancer cases found through screening with those found incidentally, and to propose disease surveillance recommendations.Prospective screening for early thyroid cancer detection with thyroid ultrasound (US) was performed on FAP patients at the time of annual colonoscopy since November 2008. Clinical and US data were reviewed to characterize the observed thyroid nodules. Nonscreening-detected cases (NSD) were found through review of the colon cancer registry database.Eighteen NSD were found, compared with 15 screening-detected (SD) cases, out of 205 total patients screened (Mage=42 years; 55% female). The mean tumor size was larger in the NSD group than the SD group (p=0.04), and they tended to demonstrate more positive lymph nodes and more complications than the SD group. In the screened cohort, at least one thyroid nodule was detected in 106 (51.7%) patients, with 90% of these seen on initial exam. A total of 40/106 (37.7%) patients required fine-needle aspiration biopsy of a dominant nodule (Msize=14 mm), and 28/40 (70%) of these were performed at the first US visit. Suspicious US features were present in 16/40 (40%) patients, including five sub-centimeter nodules. Cytology and/or nodule US was abnormal in 15/205 screened patients, leading to surgery and revealing 14 papillary and one medullary thyroid cancer.Given the age and sex distribution of the screened cohort, this study reveals a higher-than-expected prevalence of both benign and malignant thyroid disease in the FAP population. Additionally, SD cases seemed to consist of smaller-sized cancers that required less radical therapy compared to NSD cases. Since it was found that the initial US in the screening program accounted for the majority of detected nodules (90%) and biopsies (70%), baseline and subsequent thyroid US surveillance is recommended in all FAP patients.

The prevalence of familial adenomatous polyposis-associated cancers in the United States has been conservatively estimated at 15,000, and that of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)-associated cancers at 30,000. Every blood descendant of each of these patients is at risk of carrying a germline mutation predisposing them to early onset colorectal and other cancers. Optimal care of these high-risk families involves a center with expertise in the syndromes. This study was performed to see how many such centers exist in the United States and to learn something of how they work. The mailing lists of three international societies concerned with inherited colorectal cancer were used to send surveys inquiring about the presence of a registry or center, and how that center worked. The Collaborative Group of the Americas, the Leeds Castle Polyposis Group, and the International Collaborative Group on hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer were queried. There were 30 centers in the United States: 26 responded, representing 15 states. Eighteen centers that responded had registries for inherited colorectal cancer. There were 1,396 familial adenomatous polyposis families among the 18 registries, 2,058 hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer families, 42 with juvenile polyposis, and 216 with Peutz-Jehger’s syndrome. The 18 registries employed 29 genetic counselors or coordinators. Seven used Microsoft Access™ as a database, five used Progeny™, three a SQL server-based system, one Filemaker Pro™, one Microsoft Excel™ and one used Oracle™. Cyrillic™ was the pedigree-drawing program in 6 registries, Progeny™ in 12, and Ped Draw™ in 1. Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer was defined using the Amsterdam I criteria by four registries, Amsterdam II by five, both criteria by six, Bethesda guidelines by one, and by genotype alone in two registries. The United States is underserved by registries for inherited colorectal cancer, having enrolled only a small proportion of the families theoretically available. Registries differ in fundamental aspects of function. More collaboration and more registries are needed.

Elective proctocolectomy has been recommended for patients at high risk of desmoids based on the possibility that cancer in a retained rectum may be unresectable because of desmoid disease. There are no data to support the reality of this concern.The aim of this study was to see how often proctectomy was prevented by desmoids.This retrospective, descriptive, database study was augmented by chart review.This study was conducted at a hereditary colorectal cancer clinic in a tertiary referral center.Those presenting for proctectomy after colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis for familial adenomatous polyposis were selected.Patients underwent a proctectomy.The primary outcomes measured were the rate of proctectomy, rate of IPAA, and the incidence of desmoid disease.Sixty- seven patients, 34 men and 33 women, underwent an operation with the intent of performing proctectomy. Mean age at surgery was 39.7 years, an average of 175 months from ileorectal anastomosis. Indications for proctectomy were uncontrollable adenomas in 56, cancer in 8, and high-grade dysplasia in 3. Proctectomy was always possible. Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis was planned in 62 patients; 54 had this operation. Desmoid disease was found in 26 patients (38.8%) and influenced surgery in 13 cases, stopping pouch-anal anastomosis in 8. One patient had no resection, 2 had a pouch-low rectal anastomosis, and 5 had proctectomy and ileostomy. Proctectomy and ileostomy was planned in 5 patients and performed in all.This is a retrospective review from a single institution.The fear of an unresectable rectum or an impossible pouch-anal anastomosis should not be an indication for proctectomy in patients with low rectal polyp counts but a high risk for desmoid disease.

Background Juvenile polyposis syndrome is a dominant GI polyposis syndrome defined by ≥ 5 GI juvenile polyps or ≥ 1 juvenile polyps with a family history of juvenile polyposis. Mutations in BMPR1A or SMAD4 are found in 50% of individuals. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is a dominant disorder characterized by epistaxis, visceral arteriovenous malformations, and telangiectasias. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is diagnosed when ≥ 3 criteria including clinical manifestations or a family history, are present. A juvenile polyposis-hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia overlap syndrome has previously been reported in 22% of patients with juvenile polyposis due to a SMAD4 mutation. Objective Our objective was to determine the prevalence and clinical manifestations of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia by Curacao criteria in our juvenile polyposis SMAD4 patients. Design, patients, and setting This was a cohort study of juvenile polyposis patients in our inherited colon cancer registries. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia manifestations were obtained from medical records, patient contact, and/or prospective hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia screening. The Curacao criteria was used for diagnosis of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (≥ 3 criteria diagnostic; 2 criteria suspect of). Main outcome measures Prevalence and clinical manifestations of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia in juvenile polyposis SMAD4 patients. Results Forty-one juvenile polyposis families were identified. Genetic testing was available for individuals within 18 families. SMAD4 mutations were found in 21 relatives in 9 families. Eighty-one percent of SMAD4 patients had hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and 14% were suspected of having hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Epistaxis and asthma are the most common symptoms in our overlap patients. Symptomatic and subclinical arteriovenous malformations were noted near universally. Limitations There was a single, tertiary referral center. Conclusions Nearly all juvenile polyposis SMAD4 patients have the overlap syndrome. The clinical implications and need for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia screening are important factors for genetic testing in juvenile polyposis. Health care providers must be cognizant of the juvenile polyposis-hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia overlap syndrome and the implications for management of these patients.

Clarify the incidence of thyroid cancer in patients with Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) in a prospective study of thyroid neck US screening.FAP is a hereditary disease predisposing to cancer in multiple organs, including the thyroid. However, routine thyroid screening for FAP patients is not generally practiced in the United States. Here, we report the initial results of a prospective thyroid cancer screening program in patients with FAP.At the time of yearly gastrointestinal follow-up, every FAP patient in our registry was offered thyroid ultrasound (US) performed by experienced endocrine surgeons. Clinical findings related to thyroid disease were analyzed for those patients who completed screening from August 2008 to December 2009.: Of 192 screened FAP patients, 72 (38%) had thyroid nodules and 5 (2.6%) had thyroid cancer. Three of 5 patients with FAP and thyroid cancer were women. Four of 5 patients had the multifocal papillary type with mean size 15 mm. Clinical history and neck exam did not detect any of the 5 cancers.The incidence of thyroid cancer among FAP patients is high. Medical history and exam are inadequate to identify patients with thyroid cancer, thus thyroid screening with US is warranted.