OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical features and molecular mutation of early-onset familial adenomatous polyposis(FAP) in childhood.

METHODThe clinical features, endoscopic findings, pathology and therapeutic effect of sulindac during 11 years follow-up in a child with FAP were retrospectively reviewed . Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene mutation analysis was performed by PCR and first generation sequencing.

RESULTThis 6-year-old girl was admitted for intermittent bloody stool during the last one and a half years. Colonoscopy showed hundreds of polyps in the rectum and colon. Pathological examination revealed tubular adenomas with high grade dysplasia. During the follow-up period of 11 years, the child presented intermittent mucous bloody stool. Endoscopy showed the number of polyps in colon and rectum increased to thousands, and found multiple polyps in gastric fundus and body.She was treated with sulindac at the age of 13. Then the number of polyps and the grade of pathology showed a slight improvement and no carcinoma was seen on biopsy. She has not accepted surgery until now. Gene sequencing of this child revealed 5 bp deletion at codon 1,309 of exon 15 (c.3927_3931delAAAGA) of tumor suppressor gene, whereas none of her parents had the same mutation. And no polyps were found on her parents colonoscopy.

CONCLUSIONThis child with FAP had an early onset of this disease, and clinical conditions were exacerbated with age. Sulindac was partially effective in controlling size and number of polyps. The site of mutation in this case was consistent with classic FAP, and without family history, the mutation may be a sporadic one.