1992 Volume 34 Issue 11 Pages 2615-2620_1
A 42-year-old man referred to our hospital with chief complaints of diarrhea, cutaneous pigmentation and dysgeusia in October 1989. In November, alopecia was developed in the head, axilla and pubis. Barium enema and colonoscopy revealed innumerable small polyps throughout the colon. Colonoscopic biopsy specimen showed stromal edema, infiltration with lymphocytes, and cystic dilatation of the crypt regions. From these findings, this case was diagnosed as Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. He was admitted to our hospital on November 22, 1989. Blood counts gave normal results on admission. Total serum protein was6. lg/dl, with normal serum albumin of 3.9g/dl. Upper gastrointestinal series and endoscopy revealed small red polyps in the stomach and the duodenum, remarkably in the antrum. Soon after admission, fingernails and toenails developed marked onychodystrophy, followed by separation of the nailplates from the nail beds. However, subjective symptoms improved spontaneously in a short time. Despite no treatment, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in April 9, 1990 and colonoscopy in May 30 did not show any polyps. He remains well in April 1992. This is a case of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome regressed spontaneously.
