Early screening the small bowel is key to protect Peutz-Jeghers syndrome patients from surgery: a novel mutation c.243delG in STK11 gene.

BACKGROUND

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a Mendelian disease, whose causative gene is STK11, mainly characterized by gastrointestinal polyposis and increased cancer risk. Clinical observation reveals intussusception in childhood are more frequent and severe than in adults, and it is difficult to prevent this knotty complication.

CASE PRESENTATION: A boy without a positive family history grew oral MP after birth and developed abdominal pain and bloody stood at 7 years old. Endoscopy revealed multiple polyps within the colon and the ileum, and endoscopic polypectomy and regular surveillance protected him from severe complications and open surgeries. A heterozygous deletion in STK11, c.243delG, was detected in the proband but not in his parents. This mutation has not been documented in databases.

CONCLUSIONS

We suspect a child of PJS may need a more thorough endoscopic examination including enteroscopy or capsule endoscopy to take care of small bowel when PJS related symptoms comes up.