[Familial adenomatous polyposis: Gardner's syndrome]

Familial adenomatous polyposis (PAF) associated to soft tissue tumors or osteomas constitutes the Gardner's syndrome of autosomal dominant inheritance. The risk of colorectal cancer in these patients is 100%. We present a patient with Gardner's syndrome who was had colectomy at early age. An eleven years old boy he was evaluated due to a family history of PAF and subcutaneous tumors (occipital and left thigh). Genetic profile shows a mutation in gene APC and the colonoscopy confirms the polyposis; the biopsy also suggested moderate dysplasia. When the patient reached the age of twelve, a total colectomy with colorectal mucosectomy was performed. Cystic subcutaneous lesions (epidermoid cysts) were also excised. In the postoperative period there were no complications. The prophylactic colectomy, is the only effective treatment to prevent the colorectal cancer. Gardner's syndrome patients requires periodic controls to rule out the appearance of new tumors or anomalies in the retine. The duodenoscopy is essential in the follow up of these patients because of the frequency of duodenal affectation.