FAMILIAL JUVENILE POLYPOSIS WITH PREDOMIN ANT INVOLVEMENT OF THE STOMACH

Juvenile Polyposis (JP) is a rare disease that may be found anywhere w ithin the gastrointestinal tract, almost most cases so far reported ha ve involved the colon. It is a precancerous condition, with the subseq uently developing carcinomas so far also being found almost exclusivel y in the colon. A familial form is found in 20 to 50% of the cases. Th e present paper describes a family in whom three members of the second generation developed massive JP in the stomach requiring partial rese ction of the stomach or gastrectomy. Three members of the first genera tion died of carcinoma of the stomach and a forth of carcinoma of the colon. A male member of the second generation was treated at the age o f 38 years for a carcinoma of the colon; 16 years later, he underwent resection of the stomach for juvenile polyposis and the histological w ork-up of the surgical specimen revealed in addition, areas of dysplas ia and early carcinomas restricted to the mucosa.