Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of Chinese patients with Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS).
Methods: Relevant data of Chinese CCS patients from 1985 to 2006 were retrieved from Medline and Chinese biomedical database and a meta-analysis was conducted.
Results: A total of 35 CCS cases had been reported by Chinese hospitals with the clinical characteristics of gastrointestinal polyposis with ectodermal trilogy, mainly manifested as diarrhea, bellyache, weight loss, anemia, and edema. Canceration was reported in 2 patients. Some patients had symptomatic response to combination therapy. There might be racial or regional differences in CCS susceptibility; however, such information was often neglected in the medical records at home and abroad. New techniques, such as (99)Tc(m)-HSA scan, double-balloon enteroscopy and wireless capsule endoscopy provided new information on CCS.
Conclusion: The clinical features of Chinese CCS patients are similar to those of the European or Japanese patients. Novel appliance, case report standardization and sharing database may promote the understanding of this rare syndrome.