Case report: Initial atypical skeletal symptoms and dental anomalies as first signs of Gardner syndrome: the importance of genetic analysis in the early diagnosis

Abstract

Background: Gardner syndrome is a rare genetic cancer predisposition disorder characterized by intestinal polyposis, multiple osteomas, and soft and hard tissue tumors. Dental anomalies are present in approximately 30%–70% of patients with Gardner syndrome and can be discovered during routine dental examinations. However, sometimes the diagnosis is challenging due to the high clinical variability and incomplete clinical picture. Herein, we report a family with various dental and bone anomalies, in which the definitive diagnosis was established with the help of a comprehensive genetic analysis based on state-of-the-art next-generation sequencing technology.Case presentation: A 17-year-old female index patient presented with dental (caries, impacted, retained and anteriorly located teeth) and atypical bone anomalies not resembling Gardner syndrome. She was first referred to our Genetic Counselling Unit at the age of 11 due to an atypical bone abnormality identified by a panoramic X-ray. Tooth 3.6 was surgically removed and the histopathology report revealed a Paget’s disease-like bone metabolic disorder with mixed osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity of the mandible. A small lumbar subcutaneous tumor was discovered by physical examination. Ultrasound examination of the tumor raised the possibility of a soft tissue propagation of chondromatosis. Her sister, 2 years younger at the age of 14, had some benign tumors (multiple exostoses, odontomas, epidermoid cysts) and impacted teeth. Their mother had also skeletal symptoms. Her lower teeth did not develop, the 9th-10th ribs were fused, and she complained of intermittent jaw pain. A cranial CT scan showed fibrous dysplasia on the cranial bones. Whole exome sequencing identified a heterozygous pathogenic nonsense mutation (c.4700C>G; p.Ser1567*) in the APC gene in the index patient’s DNA. Targeted sequencing revealed the same variant in the DNA of the other affected family members (the sister and the mother).Conclusion: Early diagnosis of this rare, genetically determined syndrome is very important, because of the potentially high malignant transformation of intestinal polyps. Dentists should be familiar with the typical maxillofacial features of this disorder, to be able to refer patients to genetic counseling. Dental anomalies often precede the intestinal polyposis and facilitate the early diagnosis, thereby increasing the patients’ chances of survival. Genetic analysis may be necessary in patients with atypical phenotypic signs.