A Very Unusual Cause of Diarrhea in a 60-Year-Old Man
October 2013
in “
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
”
TLDR The man's diarrhea was caused by a rare disorder called Cronkhite-Canada syndrome, which improved with specific medications.
A 60-year-old man was diagnosed with Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS), a rare non-hereditary disorder characterized by symptoms such as diarrhea, weight loss, nail and hair loss (alopecia), and skin hyperpigmentation. The diagnosis was supported by findings of diffuse gastrointestinal polyps and mucosal abnormalities. CCS is associated with a significant risk of colorectal cancer and a high mortality rate due to protein-losing enteropathy. Treatment with prednisone and azathioprine led to symptom improvement. Although no standardized treatment exists, corticosteroids and azathioprine have shown positive results, and successful treatment typically involves clearing inflammatory polyps and resecting any remaining polyps to prevent dysplastic changes.
