A case of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome developing after hemi-colectomy

A 57-year-old male presented with abrupt melena. Numerous polypoid lesions were found in the stomach and colon accompanied by characteristic ectodermal changes of the Cronkhite Canada syndrome. He had undergone a left side hemicolectomy for colon cancer 3 years previously. Two months after the operation, he had noticed hyperpigmentation of the skin, alopecia and chronic diarrhea. Subsequently, after 8 months, the presence of numerous polypoid lesions in the remnant colon and the rectum was established. This is the first reported case in which features of the Cronkhite-Canada syndrome have developed after resection for colon cancer.