Peutz-Jeghers syndrome in a woman presenting as intussusception: A case report

Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the jejunum in a patient with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Despite being the longest and containing a greater proportion of the gastrointestinal tract's mucosal surface area, the small bowel is where <2 % to 5 % of gastrointestinal cancers can occur. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is the rarest risk factor for the development of small intestinal cancers. Here we report a case of perforated poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the jejunum for which Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is identified.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 25-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with generalized peritonitis caused by a perforated jejunal mass. The patient underwent an emergency exploratory laparotomy. There was 800 ml of thin pus in the peritoneal cavity and 5 cm by 6 cm perforated mass over the jejunum which extends to the mesentery. Palpable intraluminal polyps with an inverted serosal surface for some of them were identified. The pus was sucked out, and the mass was resected with its mesenteric lymph nodes and segments containing polyps. Subsequently, end-to-end hand-sewn anastomosis was performed, and the abdomen was closed. The histopathology report showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, stage IIIC (PT3, PN2), and Peutz-Jeghers polyps, suggesting Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Even though small bowel malignancy is a rare entity, early detection is a challenging issue, especially when it happens below the ligaments of the trietz. Surgical resection offers the only potential cure for small bowel malignancy.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that patients with long-term, nonspecific abdominal complaints are good candidates for evaluation and investigation without overlooking small bowel malignancy. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome was a potential risk factor in our case.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: Skin manifestations and endocrine anomalies (Review)

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), a rare autosomal dominant serine/threonine kinase 11 (STK11)/ liver kinase B1 (LKB1) gene-related genodermatosis, is characterized by oral hyperpigmentation (OHP); multiple gastro-intestinal mucosal benign hamartomatous polyps causing local bleeding, occlusion, intussusception, post-resection small bowel syndrome, associated increased risk of small intestinal cancer (incidence during the third decade); and 76% cumulative higher risk than the global population of developing non-gastrointestinal tumors (female predominance) including ovarian/testicular neoplasia, pancreatic and gynecologic (breast, uterus, ovarian) cancers. Suggestive PJS-associated OHP requires STK11 genetic testing. Abdominal pain in an OHP patient may be related to PJS-associated polyps. Other features include focal depigmentation followed by hyperpigmentation, and xeroderma pigmentosum-like lesions. The severity of the dermatological findings is correlated with gastrointestinal polyps. The STK11 gene is linked to reserve of primordial follicles, polycystic ovary syndrome, female fertility, and spermatogenesis. PJS is associated with 2 types of ovarian sex-cord stroma tumors (SCSTs): annular tubules (SCTATs) and pure Sertoli cell tumors. SCSTs accounts for 8% of ovarian cancer and SCTATs represents 2% of SCST, which may be associated with the overproduction of progesterone. PJS-SCTAT vs. non-PJS-SCTAT reveals bilateral/multifocal, small tumors with a benign behavior vs. a unique ovarian, large tumor with increased malignant/metastasis risk. Male precocious puberty is due to large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumors (LCCSCTs). Notably, 30-40% of LCCSCTs are caused by PJS or Carney complex. PJS-LCCSCT is not aggressive, but it may be bilateral/multifocal, with the ultrasound hallmark being micro-calcifications. Testicular, intra-tubular large cell hyalinizing Sertoli cell tumor is the second testicle neoplasia in PJS. The skin and mucosal lesions are useful markers of PJS, assisting with the early identification of hamartomatouspolyps and initiation of serial surveillance of ovarian, or testicular neoplasia.