Misplacement of dysplastic epithelium in Peutz-Jeghers Polyps: the ultimate diagnostic pitfall?

High risk and early onset of cancer in Chinese patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder associated with a predisposition to a variety of cancers. Previous studies that have evaluated the cancer spectrum and risk of this rare disease have primarily been based on small data sets or heterogeneous cohorts from different countries. Here, we report the results of a large homogeneous cohort of Chinese PJS patients who were followed prospectively from 2006 to July 2021, and clinical data before 2006 were retrospectively collected. A total of 412 PJS patients (56.55% males) from 208 families were enrolled, contributing 12,798 person-years of follow-up. A total of 113 cancers were diagnosed in 109 patients (26.46%). The median age at the first cancer diagnosis was 40 years. In particular, patients born after the 1980s were diagnosed with cancer at an earlier median age of 30.5 years. The cumulative cancer risk was sharply increased to 30.9% at age 40 years; this high cancer risk age was 10 years earlier than that reported in previous Western studies, and increased to 76.2% at an age of 60 years. The most common cancer was gastrointestinal (GI) cancer (64.6%), in which colorectal cancer constituted a significantly larger proportional distribution (32.74%), when compared with previous investigations (11.1%−20.83%). There was some evidence that overrepresentation point variants in domain XI of STK11 may be associated with GI cancers. Furthermore, the incidences of gynecological and lung cancers were second only to that of GI cancer in this cohort. These results may provide novel insight for justifying surveillance to detect cancers at an earlier phase to improve clinical outcomes. Furthermore, the potential STK11 genotype-phenotype association could be the basis for future genetic counseling.

Bowel cancer screening-generated diagnostic conundrum of the century: pseudoinvasion in sigmoid colonic polyps

The introduction of bowel cancer screening, in the United Kingdom, United States of America, and many other Western countries, has provided considerable interest and no little diagnostic consternation for pathologists. In the United Kingdom, the universal introduction of bowel cancer screening, initially by fecal occult blood testing and more recently by the introduction of flexible sigmoidoscopy, has provided four main areas of pathological diagnostic difficulty. This is the biopsy diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, serrated pathology, the diagnosis and management of polyp cancer, and, finally, the phenomenon of pseudoinvasion/epithelial misplacement (PEM), particularly in sigmoid colonic adenomatous polyps. The diagnostic difficulties associated with the latter phenomenon have provided particular problems that have led to the institution of a UK national 'Expert Board', comprising three pathologists, who adjudicate on difficult cases. The pathological features favoring PEM are well recognized but there is no doubt that there can be profound mimicry of adenocarcinoma, and, as yet, no adjunctive diagnostic tools have been developed to allow the differentiation in difficult cases. Research in this area is proceeding and some methodologies do show promise in this difficult diagnostic area.

[Tumor in the small intestine in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome]

Epithelial misplacement can be present in small bowel polyps of patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and can mimic invasive malignancy. For recognizing epithelial misplacement, which can also have dysplastic changes, it is helpful to demonstrate the associated lamina propria and the lack of desmoplastic response. Intramural mucinous cysts are frequently seen in the setting of epithelial misplacement.

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.

Melaena with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome: a case report

Introduction

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare familial disorder characterised by mucocutaneous pigmentation, gastrointestinal and extragastrointestinal hamartomatous polyps and an increased risk of malignancy. Peutz-Jeghers polyps in the bowel may result in intussusception. This complication usually manifests with abdominal pain and signs of intestinal obstruction.

Case Presentation

We report the case of a 24-year-old Caucasian male who presented with melaena. Pigmentation of the buccal mucosa was noted but he was pain-free and examination of the abdomen was unremarkable. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed multiple polyps. An urgent abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed multiple small bowel intussusceptions. Laparotomy was undertaken on our patient, reducing the intussusceptions and removing the polyps by enterotomies. Bowel resection was not needed.

Conclusion

Melaena in PJS needs to be urgently investigated through a CT scan even in the absence of abdominal pain and when clinical examination of the abdomen shows normal findings. Although rare, the underlying cause could be intussusception, which if missed could result in grave consequences.

Gastrointestinal polyposis syndromes

Numerous polyposis syndromes involve the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including both non-hereditary and hereditary types. Causative genes are now known for the seven major syndromes. Genetic and clinicopathologic features are reviewed here and cancer predisposition is emphasized. Genetic testing is available for the GI polyposis syndromes, and can be accessed through GeneTests-GeneClinics on the Internet at http://www.genetests.org/. The website is available at no cost and is a publicly funded medical genetics resource for health care providers and researchers.

Histologic precursors of gastrointestinal tract malignancy

Precursor lesions in the GIT include flat dysplasias, adenomas, dysplasia superimposed on nonneoplastic polyps, endocrine cell dysplasia, ACF, and condyloma accuminatum. Interobserver variability can be a problem in reporting dysplasia, and ancillary techniques including flow cytometry, image analysis, proliferation markers, and examination for p53 expression can help in this task. Squamous dysplasia seen in the esophagus and anus is graded on either a two-tiered or three-tiered system largely based on the extent of mucosal involvement. Glandular dysplasia is morphologically similar whether seen as an adenomatous polyp or within the setting of Barrett's esophagus, atrophic gastritis, or idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. The distinction between LGD and HGD in glandular mucosa is based on the severity of cytologic and architectural distortion. Type I dysplasia is the classic adenomatous pattern seen most commonly and recognized by the presence of elongate hyperchromatic stratified nuclei. Type II, the nonadenomatous variant, contains vesicular nuclei and alteration in nuclear size and shape. Nonantral endocrine dysplasia in the stomach is seen in the setting of corporal predominant atrophic chronic gastritis and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type I. Condyloma accuminatum is a HPV-related lesion most commonly seen in men practicing anal intercourse. Superimposed squamous dysplasia can be seen with HGD most frequently in the HIV-positive population. Recognition of the different classification systems of dysplasia, the most frequent settings in which these lesions are found, and their natural history is important for all practicing gastroenterologists and pathologists.

Intestinal intussusception and occlusion caused by small bowel polyps in the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Management by combined intraoperative enteroscopy and resection through minimal enterostomy: case report

The Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a hereditary disease that requires frequent endoscopic and surgical intervention, leading to secondary complications such as short bowel syndrome.

CASE REPORT

This paper reports on a 15-year-old male patient with a family history of the disease, who underwent surgery for treatment of an intestinal occlusion due to a small intestine intussusception.

DISCUSSION

An intra-operative fiberscopic procedure was included for the detection and treatment of numerous polyps distributed along the small intestine. Enterotomy was performed to treat only the larger polyps, therefore limiting the intestinal resection to smaller segments. The postoperative follow-up was uneventful.

CONCLUSION

We point out the importance of conservative treatment for patients with this syndrome, especially those who will undergo repeated surgical interventions because of clinical manifestation while they are still young.