Resources » Syndrome Description

Cancer Risks

The need for childhood cancer screening in M-CM / MCAP is unclear. Generally it is up to the medical provider's judgement if screening is performed. Thresholds for screening are higher in the United States than other countries. 

In published reports, there have been two cases of individuals with M-CM who were later found to have a the childhood kidney cancer, Wilms' tumor. Both of these cases occurred before there was genetic testing to confirm the diagnosis. There have been no published cases since the genetic cause was identified and genetic testing became available.  There have been no reported cases of childhood liver cancer which is associated with other overgrowth syndromes.

Another PIK3CA condition called CLOVES syndrome has had more cases of childhood kidney cancer associated with it. Some M-CM patients have some overlapping characteristics with CLOVES syndrome.

Mutations in PIK3CA are commonly found in adult cancers, but there is not currently evidence that cancer rates are elevated in adults with M-CM / MCAP or the broader diagnosis of PROS.

The medical literature for M-CM reports one case of leukemia and two of meningiomas (brain tumors).