What is Cowden Syndrome?
Cowden syndrome is a genetically inherited disease that causes growths called hamartomas . Hamartomas are in some respects similar to tumors, but are not malignant; However, the syndrome increases the risk of some cancer types. Cowden's syndrome is also known as Cowden's disease or more Hamartomas syndrome. Grees suppressing tumor are genes that can lead to cancer development when they mutate. PTEN mutations cause cancer because the gene is involved in the cell cycle of division. When the Pten is mutated, the cell is uncontrolled and can cause a tumor. Therefore, the mutation of PTEN promotes the formation of hamartomas and at the same time causes an increased risk of cancer. Hamartomy
can form in different places in the body. Possible sites of hamartoma development including leather; mucosal surfaces such as nasal passages, urogenital system and gastrointestinal tract; bones; and the central nervous system. Hamartomas of the skin evolve in almost all cases. The risk of thyroid cancer is significant in people with this diseaseIt increases and the risk of breast cancer increases significantly in women.
Cowden syndrome is a rare disease with an approximate prevalence of one case per 200,000 people. However, this number is a gross estimate because the disease is not easily diagnosed. In most cases, one or more hamartoms developed on the body; This can happen at any time and any stage of life.
This condition is not curable because it is caused by a inherited cell mutation that cannot be prevented. Treatment of Cowden syndrome involves regular screening for cancer development, to which an individual with disease is sensitive. Nadiagnosis, an individual usually undergoes complete physical examination to create a basic line for this disease. At regular intervals, a new examination will undergo cancer detection or cellular changes that could lead to cancer. Tests are carried out annually and include diagnostic imaging Testyle such as MRI and CT scan, as well as blood and other laboratory tests.
Cancer is the most common possible complication of syndrome. One or more types can develop, including breast cancer, thyroid, colon, lungs, uterus, bladder and bone. About 40 percent of people with syndrome develop at least one type of cancer; Many of them are curable, the provision of the disease is detected early.