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Cronkhite-Canada disease is a rare syndrome characterised by multiple polyps of the digestive tract. It is sporadic (i.e. it does not seem to be a hereditary disease), and it is currently considered idiopathic (i.e. cause remains unknown).

Polyps are most frequent in the stomach and large intestine, are also found in the small intestine, and are least frequent in the oesophagus. A biopsy will reveal them to be hamartomas; the possibility that they progress to cancer is generally considered to be low, although it has been reported multiple times in the past. Chronic diarrhoea and protein-losing enteropathy are often observed. Possible collateral features include variable anomalies of ectodermal tissues, such as alopecia, atrophy of the nails, or skip pigmentation of the skin.

[edit] See also

Other conditions consisting of multiple hamartomatous polyps of the digestive tract include Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, juvenile polyposis, and Cowden disease.

[edit] References

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• PMID 4964743 Case of cronkhite--Canada syndrome with associated jejunal diverticulosis, Br Med J. 1967 Dec 9;4(5579):601-2.