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Management of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Experience with patients from the Danish Polyposis Register

I Rebsdorf Pedersen1, A Hartvigsen, B Fischer Hansen

  • 1Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Insights

A new Danish follow-up program for Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) tailors screening frequency to polyp regrowth rates. This personalized approach aims to optimize patient care and reduce unnecessary examinations for PJS patients.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Clinical Medicine
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by polyps in the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Effective surveillance strategies are crucial for managing PJS due to an increased risk of gastrointestinal and extraintestinal cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce and describe a newly developed, literature-informed follow-up program for Danish patients diagnosed with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
  • To personalize surveillance intervals based on individual polyp regrowth rates and symptom presentation.

Main Methods:

  • The program integrates upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, small bowel enema, and surgical interventions like laparotomy with intraoperative total enteroscopy and polypectomy when indicated.
  • Extraintestinal examinations including pelvic, cervical smear, breast, and testicular exams are initiated after age 30.

Main Results:

  • The follow-up program stratifies patients based on polyp regrowth rates and symptom presence, leading to tailored examination frequencies.
  • Asymptomatic patients with slow polyp regrowth undergo less frequent surveillance, optimizing resource allocation and patient burden.

Conclusions:

  • The implemented follow-up program offers a personalized and evidence-based approach to managing Peutz-Jeghers syndrome in Denmark.
  • This tailored strategy aims to enhance early detection of complications while minimizing patient exposure to invasive procedures.

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