Can Electrolyte Imbalance Indicate a Diagnosis? McKittrick-Wheelock Syndrome and Synchronous Colon Tumor

Abstract

Colorectal polyps are noteworthy because of their role in the development of various clinical conditions and their malignant potential. McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome, one of these clinical conditions, is characterized by dehydration, tenesmus, secretory diarrhea, fluid-electrolyte disturbance (hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypochloremia, metabolic acidosis), and prerenal acute renal failure accompanied by large colorectal villous adenomas. Large villous adenomas, which cause the syndrome due to the hormones and secretions they produce, carry a high risk of invasive cancer because of their size and histological type. Definitive surgery or endoscopic resection following supportive treatment for fluid-electrolyte disorders is essential in the syndrome’s treatment and leads to an increase in survival rate and quality of life. In this case report, we aim to present this rare syndrome and the synchronous tumor accompanying it for the first time in the literature.

Keywords

• colorectal polyps
• colorectal carcinoma
• electrolyte imbalance
• mckittrick-wheelock syndrome
• synchronous colon tumor