Cowden’s disease

Synonym:

Multiple hamartoma syndrome

Cowden’s disease is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait.

Multiple hamartomas are associated with a predisposition towards malignant tumors, such as breast cancer. Breast cancer is very common in female patients with this syndrome.

Thyroid carcinoma has also been reported.

Facial papillomas, trichilemmomas, are skin colored lichenoid papules involving the central face, giving a cobblestone appearance.

Treatment:

• Ablation of the facial papillomas with a carbon dioxide laser, dermabrasion may be helpful.
• Female patients may consider prophylactic mastectomy, because of the extraordinarily high risk of breast cancer.

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