Living with Gardner syndrome
A form of familial adenomatous polyposis with many colon polyps, other tumors, bone growths, and skin and dental changes.
Understanding Gardner syndrome
Tumors may be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). People also have a higher chance of other FAP-related cancers, such as those of the small bowel, stomach, pancreas, thyroid, brain and spinal cord, liver, bile ducts, or adrenal gland. Other signs include dental differences, benign bone growths (osteomas), skin cysts, fibromas, lipomas, and desmoid tumors.
Signs & symptoms
GARD lists these among the signs of Gardner syndrome:
- Many polyps in the colon and rectum
- Dental differences
- Benign bone growths (osteomas)
- Skin cysts (epidermoid cysts)
- Benign tumors such as fibromas and lipomas
- Desmoid tumors
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Your doctor may refer you to a specialist who knows rare conditions.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation, Fight Colorectal Cancer and FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- A doctor familiar with rare conditions, plus specialists as needed
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation, Fight Colorectal Cancer, FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
Changes in the APC gene cause this condition. It is inherited in an autosomal dominant way, which means one changed copy of the gene is enough.
Also known as: gardner's syndrome; gs; gs - gardner's syndrome; intestinal polyposis, osteomas, sebaceous cysts; polyposis coli and multiple hard and soft tissue tumors
Patient organizations
- Desmoid Tumor Research FoundationGardner syndrome · United States
- Fight Colorectal CancerGardner syndrome · United States
- FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer EmpoweredGardner syndrome · United States
- American Cancer SocietyGardner syndrome · United States
- Colon Cancer AllianceGardner syndrome · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Gardner syndrome.
Explore research for Gardner syndrome
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- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
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- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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