Case of Cronkhite Canada syndrome shows improvement with enteral supplements

Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare nonfamilial syndrome characterized by marked epithelial disturbances in the GI tract and epidermis. Cronkhite and Canada described the first 2 cases in 1955. Since then only about 450 cases have been reported worldwide. Here we report a 33 year old Indian male admitted with history of loose stools and abdominal pain, loose stools associated with weight loss, generalized weakness, significant amount of hair loss as well as hyperpigmentation of his palms and soles. On subsequent days of the stay in the hospital he developed hypogeusia and showed onychodystrophy. Endoscopy of Upper GI and Lower GI tract revealed severe gastroduodenitis with polyp in duodenum and multiple polyps whole throughout the colon respectively. Biopsy report showed eosinophilic gastritis and hamartomatous polyps in colon as well as in duodenum. He was started on high protein supplement, proton pump inhibitors and zinc-vitamin supplement and he showed a complete recovery in symptoms within 5 months of initiation of treatment. Hence, early diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment helped the patient to improve in symptoms from such a rare disease.