[Gardner's syndrome. Diagnosis and surgical treatment (author's transl)]

The early appearance of "hard" and "soft" tumors should give cause to search regularly for intestinal polyposis. Once the diagnosis is made prophylactic total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis is justified. With regard to a polyposis of the upper gastrointestinal tract, there is room for observation. The possibility of a peripapillary carcinoma with or without simultaneous involvement of stomach and duodenum must be reckoned with even years after a colectomy. Postoperative mesenteric fibroses and widespread adhesions are responsible for subileus and ileus. Because of their tendency to recur, desmoid tumors should only be treated operatively when this appears unavoidable by reason of local symptoms.