Colorectal cancer in a man with silver-Russell syndrome: a case report

Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS), also known as Russell-Silver syndrome (RSS), is a congenital growth disorder characterized by intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation, craniofacial disproportion, asymmetry, and other distinctive features. It was first described by Alex Russell and Henry Silver in the 50s of the 20th century. Its broad range of manifestations makes its true incidence difficult to determine. While gastrointestinal anomalies such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophagitis have been reported in SRS patients, an association with colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been described. Here, we present the case of a 31-year-old man with SRS who was referred to us for constipation. A rectal biopsy revealed moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, and a staging CT scan demonstrated multiple lung and hepatic nodules.