Gardner syndrome (Gardner’s syndrome) is a rare inherited disorder. People with Gardner syndrome have unusual growths throughout their bodies, including hundreds of colon polyps that may become colon cancer. Without treatment, nearly everyone with Gardner syndrome develops colon cancer. They may also have noncancerous tumors that may appear in their bones, intestines, skin and other soft tissues. They’re also at risk for several other conditions, including other cancers.
What are other conditions linked to Gardner syndrome?
People with Gardner syndrome have an increased risk of developing the following conditions:
That depends on your signs and symptoms. For example, having extra teeth is an early sign of Gardner syndrome. If you have extra teeth, you may need dental procedures to remove extra teeth and realign other teeth.
If you have desmoid tumors, you may receive chemotherapy to shrink them or treatment to keep these noncancerous tumors from growing. If genetic tests show mutated APC genes, providers may recommend specific cancer screening tests.
Most people with Gardner syndrome have colon polyps that may become colon cancer. If that’s your situation, your provider may recommend medication to slow down polyp growth. If you have many colon polyps, your provider may recommend one of the following surgeries:
Colectomy to remove part of your colon or your entire colon. Healthcare providers may recommend surgery if tests show you have 20 to 30 colon polyps.
Proctocolectomy to remove your large intestine and most of your rectum.
How is Gardner syndrome diagnosed?
Gardner syndrome causes many different symptoms. Healthcare providers may do the following tests to diagnose Gardner syndrome:
Genetic tests for mutations in your APC gene. Healthcare providers may recommend genetic testing for Gardner syndrome if you have a close family member with the condition.
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