CARCINOMA OF THE THYROID-GLAND AND GARDNERS-SYNDROME

A patient known to be suffering from Gardner's syndrome who developed carcinoma of the thyroid gland is presented. A review of the literatur e reveals that this relationship is not fortuitous and that it has the following characteristics: female predominance (89%), youth (< 30 yea rs in 78%), papillary form (88%), multicentricity (70%) and thyroid ca rcinoma preceding diagnosis of hereditary polyposis in 30%. Hereditary polyposis patients affected by familial polyposis coli are at signifi cant risk of developing extracolonic malignant tumours, and require li fe-long surveillance. Palpation of the thyroid gland and possibly ultr asound examination of the neck should be part of the routine follow up of these patients.