Superficial cystic gastritis with alopecia. A forme fruste of the Cronkhite Canada syndrome

The Cronkhite-Canada syndrome is a rare and often fatal condition. A case of superficial cystic gastritis in a 59-yr-old man was suspected on peroral gastric biopsy and was later confirmed at autopsy. The selective involvement of the stomach together with the presence of alopecia leads to the conclusion that this case is unique and represents a forme fruste of the Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. A complicating feature was the presence of an opportunistic cytomegalovirus infection of the gastrointestinal tract and lungs.