Cronkhite-Canada syndrome: report of two cases

Two cases of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome are reported. In the first case? a 5 6-year-old woman had an adenoma of the colon, arising within the Cronkhite- Canada polyps, which was removed by endoscopic polypectomy. This suggests p ossible neoplastic transformation of polyps in this syndrome. She achieved remission with corticosteroids, but the polyposis recurred (only in the sto mach) 7 months after the remission. In the recurrent polyposis, corticoster oid therapy resulted again in complete remission, which has lasted for 5 ye ars. In the second case, a 69-year-old man developed typical manifestations of the syndrome while under emotional stress. He had a past history of chr onic pityriasis lichenoides, and serum antinuclear antibody was positive. T hese findings suggested a possible role of autoimmune response in the patho genesis of the syndrome. Corticosteroids were also effective in this patien t.