Complete regression of colonic adenomas after treatment with sulindac in Gardner's syndrome: a 4-year follow-up.

A 22-year-old woman with Gardner's syndrome in whom long-term sulindac therapy, without surgical treatment, was effective in inducing complete regression of colonic adenomas is reported. One hundred milligrams of sulindac was administered twice daily after endoscopic polypectomy. Follow-up colonoscopy 6 months later revealed an encouraging regression of colonic adenomas. The tumors had disappeared after 40 months of sulindac treatment. A sustained effect was identified even after 51 months. Ten milligrams of famotidine was coadministered to prevent side effects of sulindac. Although the effect of sulindac on colorectal adenomas may be transient, this therapy may be useful for postponing prophylactic colectomy, especially for the sparse type of familial adenomatous polyposis.