Published online Jan 26, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i2.264
Peer-review started: November 11, 2019
First decision: November 22, 2019
Revised: December 15, 2019
Accepted: January 1, 2020
Article in press: January 1, 2020
Published online: January 26, 2020
Processing time: 67 Days and 0.4 Hours
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease easily causing secondary malignant changes without effective treatments.
To assess the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of malignant changes secondary to PJS.
The clinical data of five patients with malignant changes secondary to PJS diagnosed and treated at Beijing Friendship Hospital from June 2014 to January 2017 were retrospectively analyzed; the follow-up ended in May 2018.
There were three male and two female patients with an average age of 43.6 years. Intestinal obstruction, intussusception, and abdominal pain were the first symptoms. Computed tomography and gastrointestinal imaging combined with endoscopy helped evaluate the depth of tumor infiltration and determine the need for radical resection. Three patients underwent surgery. Postoperative pathology confirmed adenocarcinoma, genetic test indicated STK11 mutation, and the patients received chemotherapy, including one who succumbed to tumor progression 6 months post-surgery. Other two patients underwent endoscopic resection, and postoperative pathology confirmed high grade intraepithelial neoplasia. The surviving patients had no recurrence by May 2018.
Endoscopy combined with computed tomography and gastrointestinal imaging is of great significance in the diagnosis and treatment of PJS, and pathological examination and gene detection are the gold standards for detecting malignant changes secondary to PJS. Some malignant polyps can be removed under endoscopy, and surgery is feasible when malignant polyps cannot be removed under an endoscope. For patients unable to achieve R0 resection, clinical symptoms should be relieved, and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy could improve long-term prognosis. Meanwhile, close and regular surveillance should be conducted to prevent severe complications.
Core tip: Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease easily causing secondary malignant changes without effective treatments. Pathological examination and gene detection are the gold standards for detecting malignant PJS polyps. Patients with PJS have higher malignant tumor susceptibility. Hence, we need to surveil regularly and take positive measures for removing Peutz-Jeghers polyps.