Fundic Gland Polyposis - Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology

The development of polyps depends on the underlying disorder.

In sporadic cases of fundic gland polyps, more than 90% of patients have activating mutations in the β-catenin gene.

In familial adenomatous polyposis, the abnormality is a mutation in the APC gene, resulting in its inactivity. Attenuated FAP can occur from other mutations in the APC gene, and causes a phenotype wherein colonic polyps may be few in number

Both the β-catenin gene and the APC gene are involved in the same cell growth signalling pathway, but the APC gene is known to have a significantly higher association with the development of colorectal tumors.