Garcin's syndrome secondary to rectal carcinoma in a Nigerian child

Abstract

Colorectal carcinoma in childhood is rare in spite of the rising prevalence of the condition in the African population. Even rarer is the occurrence of multiple cranial nerve paralysis simulating Garcin's syndrome in this age group. This report discusses a case of an 11-year-old boy who presented to our unit with histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the rectum with cerebral metastasis and multiple cranial nerve paralysis suggestive of Garcin's syndrome. Challenges in management were highlighted, and we reviewed the literature on colorectal carcinoma in children.

Keywords

• Children
• Garcin's syndrome
• Nigeria
• rectal carcinoma