Question

Difficulty: EasyGastroenterology and Hepatology

Identify the correct inherited gastrointestinal syndrome that corresponds to each set of clinical findings.

  • Innumerable colonic adenomatous polyps and a near 100% risk of colorectal cancer by age 40.Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
  • Hamartomatous gastrointestinal polyps accompanied by dark blue or brown mucocutaneous macules on the lips.Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
  • Early-onset colorectal, endometrial, and ovarian cancers with few or no antecedent colonic polyps.Lynch syndrome
  • Multiple gastrointestinal hamartomas presenting alongside a markedly increased risk of breast and thyroid malignancies.Cowden syndrome

Answer

The first clinical description matches Familial adenomatous polyposis, the second matches Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, the third matches Lynch syndrome, and the fourth matches Cowden syndrome.
Each clinical description highlights the hallmark phenotypic features of a major inherited gastrointestinal syndrome. Familial adenomatous polyposis features florid adenomatous polyposis. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is marked by mucocutaneous pigmentation. Lynch syndrome is characterized by early-onset colon and endometrial cancers without extensive polyposis. Cowden syndrome uniquely associates gastrointestinal hamartomas with thyroid and breast malignancies.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the first description focusing on innumerable polyps and high colorectal cancer risk.
Matches Familial adenomatous polyposis.
Familial adenomatous polyposis is the classic polyposis syndrome caused by an APC mutation resulting in hundreds of polyps.
2
Analyze the second description focusing on lip macules and hamartomatous polyps.
Matches Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
Mucocutaneous pigmentation is a pathognomonic feature of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
3
Analyze the third description focusing on multiple early-onset cancers without significant polyposis.
Matches Lynch syndrome.
Lynch syndrome is defined by mismatch repair defects causing cancers without preceding florid polyposis.
4
Analyze the fourth description focusing on gastrointestinal hamartomas and breast/thyroid cancer risk.
Matches Cowden syndrome.
Cowden syndrome uniquely combines gastrointestinal hamartomas with these specific extraintestinal malignancies.

Key Concept

Inherited gastrointestinal polyposis and cancer syndromes
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