Colon polyps are small clusters of cells that grow on the lining of your colon (large intestine). They’re quite common, and up to 40% of American adults have them.
While experts aren’t sure what causes colon polyps to form, your risk of developing them increases as you get older. In fact, most people with colon polyps are over the age of 45.
But what does it mean if you’ve been diagnosed with colon polyps at a young age? If you’re younger than 45 or if you have multiple polyps, it could be a sign of a rare genetic condition called Gardner syndrome.
Gardner syndrome affects just one in 1 million people in the United States. It’s an inherited condition that increases polyp and tumor growth in your body, and it heightens your risk of developing certain types of cancer.
As a leading surgeon in Fort Worth, Texas, Balaguru Sambandam, MD, FACS, specializes in diagnosing polyps, tumors, and other growths at North Tarrant Health Providers. He’s here to answer your questions about Gardner syndrome, including helpful treatment options.
Gardner syndrome is caused by a mutation in the APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) gene. It’s a condition known as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), and it makes your body develop multiple different types of tumors and growths.
The most common symptom of Gardner syndrome is colon polyps. While people with Gardner syndrome can develop colon polyps as early as 16 years old, most are first diagnosed around the age of 22.
With Gardner syndrome, the number of colon polyps you get can vary. Some people have just a few polyps, while others develop hundreds of them.
Gardner syndrome can also cause other types of tumors and growths to develop in your body. These can include:
Like colon polyps, the presence and severity of these symptoms vary from one person to the next.
Lipomas are a type of noncancerous soft tissue tumor. They’re made of fatty tissue and they grow under your skin. They’re usually painless.
While anyone can develop a lipoma, your risk increases if you have Gardner syndrome. In these cases, you might develop multiple lipomas on your body.
Unfortunately, Gardner syndrome is a lifelong condition with no known cure. Treatment is focused on reducing your cancer risk and improving your quality of life.
If you have a painful lipoma, Dr. Sambandam might recommend removing it. Otherwise, most noncancerous tumors don’t require treatment.
People with Gardner syndrome benefit from frequent colorectal screenings to evaluate polyps and identify early signs of colon cancer. Depending on your screening results, you may need colon surgery to remove cancerous polyps.
Dr. Sambandam and our team specialize in robotic surgery to treat polyps. This highly precise, minimally invasive procedure reduces surgical risks to decrease complications and healing time.
To learn more about the management strategies and treatment options for Gardner syndrome, schedule a consultation with Dr. Sambandam. Call our office at 817-904-4165 or request an appointment online today.
