Complications

In addition to colon cancer, familial adenomatous polyposis can cause other complications:

• Duodenal polyps. These polyps grow in the upper part of your small intestine and may become cancerous. But with careful monitoring, duodenal polyps can often be detected and removed before cancer develops.
• Periampullary polyps. These polyps occur where the bile and pancreas ducts enter the duodenum (ampulla). Periampullary polyps might become cancerous but can often be detected and removed before cancer develops.
• Gastric fundic polyps. These polyps grow in the lining of your stomach.
• Desmoids. These noncancerous masses can arise anywhere in the body but often develop in the stomach area (abdomen). Desmoids can cause serious problems if they grow into nerves or blood vessels or exert pressure on other organs in your body.
• Other cancers. Rarely, FAP can cause cancer to develop in your thyroid gland, central nervous system, adrenal glands, liver or other organs.
• Noncancerous (benign) skin tumors.
• Benign bone growths (osteomas).
• Congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE). These are benign pigment changes in the retina of your eye.
• Dental abnormalities. These include extra teeth or teeth that don't come in.
• Low numbers of red blood cells (anemia).