Gardner syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes polyps and tumors in the colon, potentially leading to colon cancer. Symptoms include impacted teeth, osteomas, and inflammation of the colon. Diagnosis involves colon evaluation and surgery. It is sometimes considered a variant of familial adenomatous polyposis.
Gardner syndrome is a disorder associated with the colon. With this type of colon disorder, there are a number of polyps found in the organ, along with tumors that develop over time. The origins of this type of condition are thought to be genetic in nature and may increase the potential for developing colon cancer.
The health condition is named after Eldon J. Gardner, a professor who first identified and defined the syndrome in 1951. Although research has since uncovered more information about Gardner syndrome, the basis of what Gardner presented for the first time they are still true. Much of what we learned about this type of colon disorder came as modern medicine realized the role genetics played in passing on diseases and health problems from one generation to the next.
There are several signs and symptoms that can indicate the presence of Gardner syndrome. Teeth are often one of the most common symptoms of Gardner syndrome. When the condition is present, there may be a number of impacted teeth, as well as the presence of osteomas in the jaw area.
Another of the most common symptoms of Gardner’s Syndrome is inflammation of the colon which manifests itself with difficulty in eliminating waste, a sense of satiety for long periods and the development of a low and recurring temperature. As the polyps and tumors start to get bigger, the symptoms will become more pronounced. Left untreated, the condition can cause damage to the intestines in general, as well as set the stage for the spread of cancers to other parts of the body.
Getting a diagnosis for Gardner’s syndrome usually involves tests that help evaluate the condition of the colon. Once the presence of the polyps and tumors is discovered, it is often necessary to use some type of surgery to secure the samples and test them to see if they are benign or malignant. Today, samples can often be protected using minimally invasive techniques. Depending on the results, the doctor may choose to monitor the condition for some time or schedule surgery to remove the tumors and polyps before they can start affecting other organs.
Today, Gardner syndrome is not always viewed as a distinct condition. More often, the syndrome is considered a variant form of a condition known as familial adenomatous polyposis, or FAP. However, the condition has the potential to lead to the development of cancer in the colon and other areas of the body, a fact which leads some healthcare professionals to still classify the syndrome as a separate health disorder.
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