Juvenile polyposis with macrocephaly and mental retardation (? Ruvalcava-Myhre-Smith syndrome)--a case report

A male child aged one and a half years with a history of rectal bleeding, on examination was found to have severe degree of anaemia with grade -III protein-energy-malnutrition and pneumonia. Colonoscopy revealed features of colonic polyposis. An upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy showed a duodenal polyp while barium meal follow-through did not reveal any polyps in the small intestine. Total colectomy and ileo-rectal anastomosis was done. Following histopathological study, the diagnosis of Juvenile polyposis syndrome was made, a very rare entity and is known to lead to adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition the child was found to have macrocephaly and mental retardation. The rarity and importance of the diagnosis of juvenile polyposis syndrome associated with macrocephaly and mental retardation (?Ruvalcava-Myhre-Smith syndrome) prompted the documentation of this case.