RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PEUTZ-JEGHERS SYNDROME IN CHILDHOOD

A combined surgical and endoscopic approach for managing extensive pol yposis in a child with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is presented. Appl ication of this technique offers the following advantages over convent ional surgical practice - 1) an accurate assessment can be made of the extent of intestinal polyposis; 2) small polyps can be easily removed endoscopically; 3) endoscopy can direct the operating surgeon to sele cted enterotomy sites for open excision of larger polyps and 4) multip le laparotomy, extensive intestinal resection(s) and the potential thr eat of short-gut syndrome in PJS patients may be avoided.