Gardner’s syndrome is a rare inherited condition in which thousands of small protruding growths of excess tissue (polyps) develop in the stomach, upper portion of the intestine (duodenum), and colon. The polyps caused by this syndrome usually appear around age 15 and may develop into colon cancer.

People who have Gardner’s syndrome may also have other soft-tissue diseases, such as fibromas and lipomas, or bony growths in the jaw and skull.

Treatment for Gardner’s syndrome is surgical removal of the colon and rectum. Gardner’s syndrome is an inherited disorder, so genetic testing and screening with colonoscopy is recommended for all relatives of a person diagnosed with this disorder.