A Case of Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome Improved Markedly with Short-term Steroid Therapy

Abstract

A 59-year-old male was admitted to the hospital complaining of lower abdominal pain, diarrhea of one month duration, and melena. In this case, numerous and uniform gastrointestinal polyposis, alopecia, onychotrophia, skin pigmentation, and mild hypoproteinemia were found. Histological examination of biopsy specimens from colonic polyps revealed cystic dilatation of the glans and edematous stroma. Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) was diagnosed.
No especial changes of clinical manifestations were seen with conventional treatment (intra-venous hyperalimentation, t-AMCHA) , but diarrhea and polyposis improved remarkably with 10-days steroid therapy. Short-term steroid therapy may effective to CCS with uniform gastrointestinal polyposis, and one of its early phase.