Preventive measures in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Diagnosis and Management of Cancer Risk in the Gastrointestinal Hamartomatous Polyposis Syndromes: Recommendations From the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer

The gastrointestinal hamartomatous polyposis syndromes are rare, autosomal dominant disorders associated with an increased risk of benign and malignant intestinal and extraintestinal tumors. They include Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, juvenile polyposis syndrome, the PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (including Cowden's syndrome and Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome), and hereditary mixed polyposis syndrome. Diagnoses are based on clinical criteria and, in some cases, confirmed by demonstrating the presence of a germline pathogenic variant. The best understood hamartomatous polyposis syndrome is Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, caused by germline pathogenic variants in the STK11 gene. The management is focused on prevention of bleeding and mechanical obstruction of the small bowel by polyps and surveillance of organs at increased risk for cancer. Juvenile polyposis syndrome is caused by a germline pathogenic variant in either the SMAD4 or BMPR1A genes, with differing clinical courses. Patients with SMAD4 pathogenic variants may have massive gastric polyposis, which can result in gastrointestinal bleeding and/or protein-losing gastropathy. Patients with SMAD4 mutations usually have the simultaneous occurrence of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (juvenile polyposis syndrome-hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia overlap syndrome) that can result in epistaxis, gastrointestinal bleeding from mucocutaneous telangiectasias, and arteriovenous malformations. Germline pathogenic variants in the PTEN gene cause overlapping clinical phenotypes (known as the PTEN hamartoma tumor syndromes), including Cowden's syndrome and related disorders that are associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal and colonic polyposis, colon cancer, and other extraintestinal manifestations and cancers. Due to the relative rarity of the hamartomatous polyposis syndromes, recommendations for management are based on few studies. This U.S Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer consensus statement summarizes the clinical features, assesses the current literature, and provides guidance for diagnosis, assessment, and management of patients with the hamartomatous polyposis syndromes, with a focus on endoscopic management.

Diagnosis and management of cancer risk in the gastrointestinal hamartomatous polyposis syndromes: recommendations from the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer

The gastrointestinal hamartomatous polyposis syndromes are rare, autosomal dominant disorders associated with an increased risk of benign and malignant intestinal and extraintestinal tumors. They include Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, juvenile polyposis syndrome, the PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (including Cowden's syndrome and Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome), and hereditary mixed polyposis syndrome. Diagnoses are based on clinical criteria and, in some cases, confirmed by demonstrating the presence of a germline pathogenic variant. The best understood hamartomatous polyposis syndrome is Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, caused by germline pathogenic variants in the STK11 gene. The management is focused on prevention of bleeding and mechanical obstruction of the small bowel by polyps and surveillance of organs at increased risk for cancer. Juvenile polyposis syndrome is caused by a germline pathogenic variant in either the SMAD4 or BMPR1A genes, with differing clinical courses. Patients with SMAD4 pathogenic variants may have massive gastric polyposis, which can result in gastrointestinal bleeding and/or protein-losing gastropathy. Patients with SMAD4 mutations usually have the simultaneous occurrence of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (juvenile polyposis syndrome-hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia overlap syndrome) that can result in epistaxis, gastrointestinal bleeding from mucocutaneous telangiectasias, and arteriovenous malformations. Germline pathogenic variants in the PTEN gene cause overlapping clinical phenotypes (known as the PTEN hamartoma tumor syndromes), including Cowden's syndrome and related disorders that are associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal and colonic polyposis, colon cancer, and other extraintestinal manifestations and cancers. Due to the relative rarity of the hamartomatous polyposis syndromes, recommendations for management are based on few studies. This U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer consensus statement summarizes the clinical features, assesses the current literature, and provides guidance for diagnosis, assessment, and management of patients with the hamartomatous polyposis syndromes, with a focus on endoscopic management.

Diagnosis and Management of Cancer Risk in the Gastrointestinal Hamartomatous Polyposis Syndromes: Recommendations From the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer

The gastrointestinal hamartomatous polyposis syndromes are rare, autosomal dominant disorders associated with an increased risk of benign and malignant intestinal and extraintestinal tumors. They include Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, juvenile polyposis syndrome, the PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (including Cowden's syndrome and Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome), and hereditary mixed polyposis syndrome. Diagnoses are based on clinical criteria and, in some cases, confirmed by demonstrating the presence of a germline pathogenic variant. The best understood hamartomatous polyposis syndrome is Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, caused by germline pathogenic variants in the STK11 gene. The management is focused on prevention of bleeding and mechanical obstruction of the small bowel by polyps and surveillance of organs at increased risk for cancer. Juvenile polyposis syndrome is caused by a germline pathogenic variant in either the SMAD4 or BMPR1A genes, with differing clinical courses. Patients with SMAD4 pathogenic variants may have massive gastric polyposis, which can result in gastrointestinal bleeding and/or protein-losing gastropathy. Patients with SMAD4 mutations usually have the simultaneous occurrence of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (juvenile polyposis syndrome-hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia overlap syndrome) that can result in epistaxis, gastrointestinal bleeding from mucocutaneous telangiectasias, and arteriovenous malformations. Germline pathogenic variants in the PTEN gene cause overlapping clinical phenotypes (known as the PTEN hamartoma tumor syndromes), including Cowden's syndrome and related disorders that are associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal and colonic polyposis, colon cancer, and other extraintestinal manifestations and cancers. Due to the relative rarity of the hamartomatous polyposis syndromes, recommendations for management are based on few studies. This US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer consensus statement summarizes the clinical features, assesses the current literature, and provides guidance for diagnosis, assessment, and management of patients with the hamartomatous polyposis syndromes, with a focus on endoscopic management.

Current Approaches to Pediatric Polyposis Syndromes

Colorectal adenomatous polyposis syndromes encompass a diverse group of disorders with varying modes of inheritance and penetrance. Children may present with overt disease or within screening programs for families at high risk. We provide an overview of the array of pediatric polyposis syndromes, current screening recommendations, and surgical indications and technical considerations. Optimal disease management for these pediatric patients is still evolving and has implications for screening, surveillance, pediatric surgical management, and transition of care gastroenterologic neoplasia physicians and surgeons.

Oral mucosal stigmata in hereditary-cancer syndromes: From germline mutations to distinctive clinical phenotypes and tailored therapies

Numerous familial tumor syndromes are associated with distinctive oral mucosal findings, which may make possible an early diagnosis as an efficacious marker for the risk of developing visceral malignancies. In detail, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), Gardner syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, Cowden Syndrome, Gorlin Syndrome, Lynch/Muir-Torre Syndrome and Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia show specific lesions of the oral mucosa and other distinct clinical and molecular features. The common genetic background of the above mentioned syndromes involve germline mutations in tumor suppressor genes, such as APC, PTEN, PTCH1, STK11, RET, clearly implied in both ectodermal and mesodermal differentiation, being the oral mucosal and dental stigmata frequently associated in the specific clinical phenotypes. The oral and maxillofacial manifestations of these syndromes may become visible several years before the intestinal lesions, constituting a clinical marker that is predictive for the development of intestinal polyps and/or other visceral malignancies. A multidisciplinary approach is therefore necessary for both clinical diagnosis and management of the gene-carriers probands and their family members who have to be referred for genetic testing or have to be investigated for the presence of visceral cancers.

Wireless capsule endoscopy in adolescents with familial adenomatous polyposis

Aims and background

Guidelines for surveillance in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) recommend mutation carriers to undergo periodic colorectal examination starting in the early teens. Performing colonoscopy in children may lead to complications. Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) has been introduced recently to evaluate both the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, and seems suitable as a first screening examination for adolescents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pros and cons of WCE.

Methods

This was a retrospective review of a single institution database of adolescent patients with FAP identified through the Hereditary Colorectal Tumor Registry between 2007 and 2013. The main outcomes were identification of upper and lower gastrointestinal tract polyps, tolerance of the examination, and number and size of polyps.

Results

Of 46 adolescent patients with FAP, 14 (30.4%) patients carrying adenomatous polyposis coli gene ( APC) mutation, 6 male and 8 female, age (median, range) 12 (10-17) years, body mass index 19 (13-24), underwent WCE as first screening examination. The examination was completed in 13 patients (93.3%). Wireless capsule endoscopy identified the duodenal papilla in 4 patients and colonic and rectal polyps in all 13 patients. In 7 patients, fewer than 25 polyps were identified. No complications were recorded related to the use of the video capsule.

Conclusions

Wireless capsule endoscopy is feasible and well-tolerated as a first screening examination in adolescent patients. It cannot be used as alternative to the colonoscopy, but could improve compliance with colonoscopy, and increase early adherence to a surveillance program.

Diagnosis of oral pigmentations and malignant transformations

BACKGROUND

Oral pigmentation is a common finding in the mouth. Pigmentation can be either normal or abnormal discoloration of oral mucous membrane. The purpose of this review mainly focuses on the main oral pigmented lesions, in order to help the clinicians establish a better approach towards the patients with pigmented oral lesions and to provide thorough knowledge regarding such lesions for patient reassurance, early definitive diagnosis and prompt treatment.

METHODS

Relevant data concerning oral pigmented lesions, clinical features and the possibility of malignant transformation of such lesions were reviewed thoroughly from pubmed literature published in English. Pigmented lesions affecting the skin were not included in our review.

RESULTS

Few pigmented lesions have been identified and their tendency to become malignant has been reported in the literature. The oral lesions showing malignant transformation reported were mostly case series. Unfortunately, due to lack of long-term studies, follow ups and randomized controlled studies in this respect it was difficult to draw a statistical analysis. This information is quite crucial for general dental practitioners to improve their understanding regarding oral lesions and to differentiate between normal and diseased conditions, so that they can master the skill of differential diagnosis, definitive diagnosis and prompt treatment.

CONCLUSION

Oral pigmentation may present as focal, multifocal or diffused macular or tumefactive lesions. They may greatly vary in color as blue, purple, brown, gray or black depending on the quantity and site of melanin in the tissues [1]. Etiology of pigmentation can be multi factorial. Mostly pigmentation is physiologic but at times it can be a precursor of severe diseases. Lesions may be caused by localized harmless accumulations of melanin, hemosiderin or exogenous metals or they may be a sign of underlying systemic or genetic disease. A few lesions may be associated with life-threatening medical conditions that require immediate intervention. The differential diagnosis for any pigmented lesion is extensive, as it includes examples of endogenous and exogenous pigmentations. Although biopsy is a helpful and necessary aid in the diagnosis of focally pigmented lesions, with diffuse pigmentation lesions require a thorough dental and medical history and laboratory investigations.

Pediatric soft tissue oral lesions

This article provides an overview of common color changes and soft tissue oral nodular abnormalities in children and adolescents. The clinical presentation and treatment options to address these conditions are presented in a concise approach, highlighting key features relevant to the oral health care professional.

Balloon-assisted enteroscopy with prophylactic polypectomy for Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: experience in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a very rare disease that often causes severe complications such as bowel obstruction or gastrointestinal tract bleeding. In the past, it was usually treated by using surgical intervention despite the associated complications. Balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) has been documented as an effective and safe method for the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel lesions. Hence, we conducted this study to verify whether BAE is useful for patients with PJS.

AIM

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of BAE with prophylactic polypectomy in patients with PJS.

METHODS AND PATIENTS

From August 2005 to February 2010, 6 consecutive patients were diagnosed with PJS after pathological and clinical examination, and underwent BAE examination and polypectomy at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, an academic tertiary referral center.

RESULTS

Six consecutive patients (4 men and 2 women) diagnosed with PJS underwent BAE with polypectomy. BAE was performed 17 times for complete examination of the entire small bowel. The range of the diameter of the removed polyps was 1-6 cm. No immediate complications such as hemorrhage or hollow organ perforation were noted during the procedure, and no patient developed intussusception during the follow-up period (32 ± 17.5 months).

CONCLUSION

BAE with polypectomy is useful for patients with PJS in order to reduce the complications of the condition.

High cumulative risk of intussusception in patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: time to update surveillance guidelines?

OBJECTIVES

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is characterized by gastrointestinal hamartomas. The hamartomas are located predominantly in the small intestine and may cause intussusceptions. We aimed to assess the characteristics, risk, and onset of intussusception in a large cohort of PJS patients to determine whether enteroscopy with polypectomy should be incorporated into surveillance recommendations.

METHODS

All PJS patients from two academic hospitals were included in this cohort study (prospective follow-up between 1995 and July 2009). We obtained clinical data by interview and chart review. Deceased family members with PJS were included retrospectively. Cumulative intussusception risks were calculated by Kaplan–Meier analysis.

RESULTS

We included 110 PJS patients (46% males) from 50 families. In all, 76 patients (69%) experienced at least one intussusception (range 1-6), at a median age of 16 (3-50) years at first occurrence. The intussusception risk was 50% at the age of 20 years (95% confidence interval 17-23 years) and the risk was independent of sex, family history, and mutation status. The intussusceptions occurred in the small intestine in 95% of events, and 80% of all intussusceptions (n=128) presented as an acute abdomen. Therapy was surgical in 92.5% of events. Based on 37 histology reports, the intussusceptions were caused by polyps with a median size of 35 mm (range 15-60 mm).

CONCLUSIONS

PJS patients carry a high cumulative intussusception risk at young age. Intussusceptions are generally caused by polyps >15 mm and treatment is mostly surgical. These results support the approach of enteroscopic surveillance, with removal of small-intestinal polyps >10-15 mm to prevent intussusceptions. The effect of such an approach on the incidence of intussusception remains to be established in prospective trials.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: a study of long-term surgical morbidity and causes of mortality

Patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) require lifelong multidisciplinary care for gastrointestinal polyposis and increased risk of cancer. Their long-term morbidities and causes of mortality are unknown. Patients with a definitive diagnosis of PJS (n = 54) were retrospectively reviewed for disease course and outcome. Operative details, pathology and complications were noted for those treated surgically (n = 33). Median follow-up was 7.0 years (interquartile range: 2-20). Two malignancies were found intra-operatively (duodenal and rectal adenocarcinoma). In the long-term, 42% underwent additional operations; 1 patient developed short bowel syndrome, while another, chronic partial bowel obstruction and pain. Twenty-one additional cancers were treated in 19 patients: gynecologic (11), lung (3), and prostate (2) being the most common. 16 patients (30%) were deceased, at a median age of 51 years. The cause of death was unknown in 4 patients, but was due exclusively to malignancies in all other patients, most commonly due to metastatic gynecologic cancer (5). The overall survival of PJS patients was significantly shorter than the expected survival of an age-and gender-matched reference population (P < 0.001). Given the morbidities associated with repeated operations and the risk for cancer-related mortality in the long-term, efforts should focus on minimizing the need for surgical intervention and optimizing cancer detection, treatment and prevention.

Clinical genetics of hereditary colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common disease, and approximately 25% of patients have a familial component. High-penetrance singlegene germline mutations conferring a true hereditary susceptibility account for around 5% to 6% of all cases. Lynch syndrome is the most common hereditary form of colorectal cancer. Much of the hereditary component in the remaining familial cases of CRC is likely polygenic, and many of the genetic changes involved are as yet unidentified. This article addresses the most clinically important CRC genetic syndromes.

Extracolonic manifestations of hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes

Familial colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC) accounts for approximately 15 to 20% of CRC. Of these, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) represent the most common hereditary syndromes associated with CRC, followed by other less common diseases including juvenile polyposis (JP) and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS). Extracolonic manifestations are common in each of these syndromes having significant implications for surveillance and management in at-risk individuals. The authors review the most common and clinically relevant extracolonic manifestations for each of these syndromes focusing on incidence, presentation, genotype/phenotype correlations, and management (including surveillance) strategies.

High cancer risk in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: a systematic review and surveillance recommendations

OBJECTIVES

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder associated with increased cancer risk. Surveillance and patient management are, however, hampered by a wide range in cancer risk estimates. We therefore performed a systematic review to assess cancer risks in PJS patients and used these data to develop a surveillance recommendation.

METHODS

A systematic PubMed search was performed up to February 2009, and all original articles dealing with PJS patients with confirmed cancer diagnoses were included. Data involving cancer frequencies, mean ages at cancer diagnosis, relative risks (RRs), and cumulative risks were collected.

RESULTS

Twenty-one original articles, 20 cohort studies, and one meta-analysis fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The cohort studies showed some overlap in the patient population and included a total of 1,644 patients; 349 of them developed 384 malignancies at an average age of 42 years. The most common malignancy was colorectal cancer, followed by breast, small bowel, gastric, and pancreatic cancers. The reported lifetime risk for any cancer varied between 37 and 93%, with RRs ranging from 9.9 to 18 in comparison with the general population. Age-related cumulative risks were given for any cancer and gastrointestinal, gynecological, colorectal, pancreatic, and lung cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

PJS patients are markedly at risk for several malignancies, in particular gastrointestinal cancers and breast cancer. On the basis of these elevated risks, a surveillance recommendation is developed to detect malignancies in an early phase and to remove polyps that may be premalignant and may cause complications, so as to improve the outcome.

Medical management update: Peutz Jeghers syndrome

Peutz Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by hamartomatous polyposis and distinct mucocutaneous pigmentation. PJS is associated with an increased risk for several cancers and other complications such as small intestine intussusception, short bowel syndrome, and anemia. Medical management mainly consists of treatment of the polyps and surveillance. This medical management update will review clinical concepts, therapeutic advances, and emphasize features of PJS important to the oral health care provider.

Endoscopic therapy of small-bowel polyps by double-balloon enteroscopy in patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

BACKGROUND

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a hereditary disorder characterized by mucocutaneous pigmentations and hamartomatous polyps mainly in the small bowel. These polyps may cause complications such as intussusception.

OBJECTIVE

To assess therapeutic efficacy and safety of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) for detection and treatment of small-bowel polyps in patients with PJS.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary-care referral center.

PATIENTS

This study involved 13 patients with PJS, defined as a proven STK11 gene mutation or according to international diagnostic criteria.

INTERVENTION

DBE with enteroscopic removal of pedunculated polyps of > or =10 mm.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Location, number and size of small-bowel polyps, polypectomy data, and complications and long-term complications associated with development of small-intestine polyps.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients with PJS (8 male, mean age 31 years) underwent 29 DBE procedures. Ten patients (77%) had a history of partial small-bowel resection because of small-bowel polyps. Small-bowel polyps were found in all 13 patients. The majority of polyps (94%) were located in the proximal jejunum. A total of 82 polyps of > or =10 mm were detected, and 79 (96%) were endoscopically removed without complications. After the introduction of DBE, no small-intestine-polyp-related complications occurred during a follow-up period of 356 person-months.

LIMITATIONS

Small number of patients.

CONCLUSION

DBE is clinically useful and safe for diagnosis and therapy of small-bowel polyps in patients with PJS, even in patients with a history of extensive abdominal surgery. DBE may decrease the need for laparotomy in patients with PJS.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: Diagnostic and therapeutic approach

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is an inherited, autosomal dominant disorder distinguished by hamartomatous polyps in the gastrointestinal tract and pigmented mucocutaneous lesions. Prevalence of PJS is estimated from 1 in 8300 to 1 in 280 000 individuals. PJS predisposes sufferers to various malignancies (gastrointestinal, pancreatic, lung, breast, uterine, ovarian and testicular tumors). Bleeding, obstruction and intussusception are common complications in patients with PJS. Double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) allows examination and treatment of the small bowel. Polypectomy using DBE may obviate the need for repeated urgent operations and small bowel resection that leads to short bowel syndrome. Prophylaxis and polypectomy of the entire small bowel is the gold standard in PJS patients. Intraoperative enteroscopy (IOE) was the only possibility for endoscopic treatment of patients with PJS before the DBE era. Both DBE and IOE facilitate exploration and treatment of the small intestine. DBE is less invasive and more convenient for the patient. Both procedures are generally safe and useful. An overall recommendation for PJS patients includes not only gastrointestinal multiple polyp resolution, but also regular lifelong cancer screening (colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound of the pancreas, chest X-ray, mammography and pelvic examination with ultrasound in women, and testicular examination in men). Although the incidence of PJS is low, it is important for clinicians to recognize these disorders to prevent morbidity and mortality in these patients, and to perform presymptomatic testing in the first-degree relatives of PJS patients.

Management of gastric polyps: a pathology-based guide for gastroenterologists

1-4% of patients who undergo gastric biopsy have gastric polyps. These lesions may be true epithelial polyps, heterotopias, lymphoid tissue, or stromal lesions. Hyperplastic polyps, which arise in patients with underlying gastritis, and fundic-gland polyps, which are associated with PPI therapy, are the most common gastric polyps; however, prevalence varies widely relative to the local prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and use of PPI therapy. Some polyps have characteristic topography, size, and endoscopic appearance. Approximately 20% of biopsy specimens identified endoscopically as polyps have no definite pathological diagnosis. Evaluation of the phenotype of the gastric mucosa that surrounds a lesion will provide significant information crucial to the evaluation, diagnosis and management of a patient. The presence of a gastric adenoma should prompt the search for a coexistent carcinoma. The endoscopic characteristics, histopathology, pathogenesis, and management recommendations of polyps and common polypoid lesions in the stomach are discussed in this Review.

Chemopreventive efficacy of rapamycin on Peutz-Jeghers syndrome in a mouse model

Germline mutations in LKB1 cause Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), an autosomal dominant disorder with a predisposition to gastrointestinal polyposis and cancer. Hyperactivation of mTOR-signaling has been associated with PJS. We previously reported that rapamycin treatment of Lkb1(+/-) mice after the onset of polyposis reduced the polyp burden. Here we evaluated the preventive efficacy of rapamycin on Peutz-Jeghers polyposis. We found that rapamycin treatment of Lkb1(+/-) mice initiated before the onset of polyposis in Lkb1(+/-) mice led to a dramatic reduction in both polyp burden and polyp size and this reduction was associated with decreased phosphorylation levels of S6 and 4EBP1. Together, these findings support the use of rapamycin as an option for chemoprevention and treatment of PJS.

Intussusception in the adult: an unsuspected case of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome with review of the literature

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is an uncommon genetic defect in the signal pathways of growth. The incidence has most recently been estimated to be in the range of 1 per 120,000 live births [1]. It is characterized by hamartomas throughout the gastrointestinal tract, mucocutaneous melanotic spots and increased predisposition to malignancy. The infrequent presentation of this syndrome in most practice combined with some less well-known diagnostic features may contribute to a misdiagnosis. Further, understanding of the genetic defect leading to the phenotypic syndrome and the future implications of this defect continue to evolve. Therefore we present a review in the setting of a case of misdiagnosed Peutz-Jeghers syndrome to portray illuminating features of the syndrome and review the literature.

Capsule endoscopy and imaging tests in the elective investigation of small bowel disease

Capsule endoscopy enables high-resolution depiction of small bowel mucosa and has been shown, by several studies, to have a high diagnostic yield in a variety of small bowel diseases. In this review, we critically assess the contributions of capsule endoscopy and imaging tests in common small bowel disorders. Radiological tests that only assess the small bowel mucosa will be less useful in the era of capsule endoscopy.

Laparoscopic-assisted double-balloon enteroscopy for small-bowel polyp surveillance and treatment in patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

BACKGROUND

Surveillance and treatment of small-bowel polyps in patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) can be challenging and may require intraoperative enteroscopy. While initial reports that used double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) for the resection of small-bowel polyps in patients with PJS appear promising, complete enteroscopy when using this technique may require multiple procedures or may not be possible at all.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a single-procedure approach to the surveillance and the treatment of small-bowel polyps in patients with PJS.

DESIGN

Retrospective review.

SETTING

Single, North American tertiary-care center.

PATIENTS

Individuals with PJS and small-bowel polyps identified by other modalities.

INTERVENTIONS

DBE was combined with laparoscopy as a single-procedure surveillance and therapeutic strategy for small-bowel PJS polyps.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Completion of enteroscopy, number of polyps resected, procedure duration, complications.

RESULTS

Three patients with a history of PJS and known small-bowel polyps underwent laparoscopic-assisted DBE (LADBE). Complete enteroscopy was performed, and all polyps larger than 0.5 cm were resected endoscopically. No cases of cancer or dysplasia were noted; procedure times lasted from 1 to 4 hours. Postoperative complications included ileus in 2 patients.

LIMITATIONS

Small sample size, single-center experience.

CONCLUSIONS

LADBE holds promise as a new technique that can be used as both a surveillance and a therapeutic tool for small-bowel polyps in patients with PJS.

The utility of capsule endoscopy small bowel surveillance in patients with polyposis

BACKGROUND

Small intestinal (SI) surveillance is recommended for polyposis patients. The utility and safety of capsule endoscopy (CE) for surveillance of SI neoplasia in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is unknown.

METHODS

CE was offered to consecutive FAP and PJS patients due for routine upper endoscopic surveillance. The prevalence, location (jejunum, ileum), size (1-5 mm, 6-10 mm, >10 mm) and number (1-5, 6-12, >20) of polyps detected by CE was assessed.

RESULTS

19 subjects (15 FAP/4 PJS) with a mean age of 43 were included. All subjects had previous intestinal surgery. No complications occurred with CE. CE in FAP: 9/15 (60%) of subjects with FAP had SI polyps. The prevalence of SI polyps was related to the duodenal polyposis stage and subject age. The location, size and number of polyps progressed as duodenal polyposis stage advanced. CE in PJS: 3/4 (75%) of subjects with PJS had SI polyps. The polyps were diffuse in 2/4 and only in the ileum in one subject. CE findings led to laparotomy with intra-operative endoscopic polypectomy in two PJS patients.

CONCLUSION

SI polyps are common in FAP but their importance is unknown. CE should be performed in FAP patients with stage III and IV duodenal disease. Clinically significant polyps are commonly detected by CE in PJS and lead to change in management in 50% of PJS subjects. CE should replace radiographic SI surveillance for PJS patients. CE is safe in polyposis patients who have undergone major intestinal surgery.

Genetic testing for inherited colon cancer

The genes associated with each of the inherited syndromes of colon cancer have now been identified, and genetic testing is available for diagnosis. These syndromes include familial adenomatous polyposis, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, juvenile polyposis syndrome, and, possibly, Cowden's syndrome. Clinical genetic testing approaches have been developed for each of these syndromes and are now a part of accepted clinical care. Disease-causing mutations can be found in the majority of families affected with one of the inherited syndromes, and, most importantly, once a mutation is found in an index case of the family, relatives can be tested for the presence or absence of that mutation with near 100% accuracy. Cancer screening and management in syndrome families is then based on the results of genetic testing. For the physician to order and properly interpret genetic tests, a basic understanding of the types of mutations that lead to inherited disease and the methods for detecting them is vital. These issues will be presented. Additional clinical issues somewhat unique to genetic testing include genetic counseling and informed consent for genetic testing, both of which will also be reviewed. Often the most difficult aspect of genetic testing is deciding which patients and families should undergo the testing. Furthermore, this issue is quite specific for each of the syndromes. Thus, following presentation of general principles of selection for genetic testing, a detailed approach for identifying persons who should undergo testing for each of the individual syndromes will be given, together with relevant descriptions of the syndromes. Finally, the ongoing work to discover new and possibly more common but less penetrant colon cancer susceptibility genes that cause common familial colon cancer will be presented.

Feasibility and diagnostic utility of video capsule endoscopy for the detection of small bowel polyps in patients with hereditary polyposis syndromes

OBJECTIVES

At present, surveillance of premalignant small bowel polyps in hereditary polyposis syndromes has a number of limitations. Capsule endoscopy (CE) is a promising new method to endoscopically assess the entire length of the small bowel.

METHODS

We prospectively examined 40 patients with hereditary polyposis syndromes (29 familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), 11 Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS)). Results were compared with push-enteroscopy (PE) results in FAP and with esophagogastroduodenoscopy, PE, (MR)-enteroclysis, and surgical specimen in PJS patients.

RESULTS

A total of 76% of the patients with FAP with duodenal adenomas (n = 21) had additional adenomas in the proximal jejunum that could be detected by CE and PE. Moreover, 24% of these FAP patients had further polyps in the distal jejunum or ileum that could only be detected by CE. In contrast, in FAP patients without duodenal polyps (n = 8), jejunal or ileal polyps occurred rarely (12%). CE detected polyps in 10 of 11 patients with PJS, a rate superior to all other reference procedures employed. Importantly, the findings of CE had immediate impact on further clinical management in all PJS patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that CE may be of clinical value in selected patients with FAP, whereas in PJS, CE could be used as first line surveillance procedure.

Suppression of Peutz-Jeghers polyposis by inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is typically manifested as severe gastrointestinal polyposis. Polyps in PJS patients and in Lkb1(+/-) mice that model PJS polyposis are frequently characterized by elevated cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). This study was designed to determine whether COX-2 inhibition would reduce tumor burden in Lkb1(+/-) mice or Peutz-Jeghers patients.

METHODS

Genetic interactions between Cox-2 and Lkb1 in polyp formation were analyzed in mice with combined deficiencies in these genes. Pharmacologic inhibition of COX-2 was achieved by supplementing the diet of Lkb1(+/-) mice with 1500 ppm celecoxib between 3.5-10 and 6.5-10 months. In PJS patients, COX-2 was inhibited with a daily dose of 2 x 200 mg celecoxib for 6 months.

RESULTS

Total polyp burden in Lkb1(+/-) mice was significantly reduced in a Cox-2(+/-) (53%) and in a Cox-2(-/-) (54%) background. Celecoxib treatment initiating before polyposis (3.5-10 months) led to a dramatic reduction in tumor burden (86%) and was associated with decreased vascularity of the polyps. Late treatment (6.5-10 months) also led to a significant reduction in large polyps. In a pilot clinical study, a subset of PJS patients (2/6) responded favorably to celecoxib with reduced gastric polyposis.

CONCLUSIONS

These data establish a role for COX-2 in promoting Peutz-Jeghers polyposis and suggest that COX-2 chemoprevention may prove beneficial in the treatment of PJS.