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Nonfamilial intestinal polyposis and brain tumor in a 5-year-old girl

M A Castello1, P Operamolla, A Clerico

  • 11st Pediatric Department, Rome University, Italy.

Insights

The youngest reported case of Turcot syndrome involves a 5-year-old girl with glioblastoma and colon cancer. This study proposes a new classification for this rare genetic disorder.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Turcot syndrome is a rare hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome.
  • It is characterized by the presence of brain tumors and colorectal polyps/cancer.
  • Genetic mutations in mismatch repair genes or APC are typically implicated.

Observation:

  • A 5-year-old female presented with glioblastoma multiforme and concurrent adenocarcinoma in a colonic polyp.
  • This represents the youngest documented patient diagnosed with Turcot syndrome.
  • Multiple colonic polyps were noted in addition to the malignancy.

Findings:

  • The case highlights an extremely early onset of both primary brain and colorectal malignancies.
  • A comprehensive literature review was conducted to contextualize this unique presentation.
  • A proposed classification system for Turcot syndrome based on family pedigree and inheritance patterns is presented.

Implications:

  • This case expands the known clinical spectrum and age of onset for Turcot syndrome.
  • The proposed classification may aid in more accurate genetic counseling and risk assessment.
  • Further research into the molecular underpinnings of early-onset Turcot syndrome is warranted.

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