Frequency and Incidence of Carney Complex Manifestations: A Prospective Multicenter Study With a Three-Year Follow-Up.

Introduction: Carney Complex (CNC) is a rare multiple endocrine and nonendocrine neoplasia syndrome. Manifestations and genotype-phenotype correlations have been described by retrospective studies, but no prospective study evaluating the occurrence of the different manifestations has been available so far.

Methods: This multicenter national prospective study included patients with CNC, primary pigmented nodular adrenal disease (PPNAD), or a pathogenic PRKAR1A mutation; after a full initial workup, participants were followed for 3 years with annual standardized evaluation.

Results: The cohort included 70 patients (50 female/20 male, mean age 35.4 ± 16.7 years, 81% carrying PRKAR1A mutation). The initial investigations allowed identification of several manifestations. At the end of the 3-year follow-up, the newly diagnosed manifestations of the disease were subclinical acromegaly in 6 patients, bilateral testicular calcifications in 1 patient, and cardiac myxomas in 2 patients. Recurrences of cardiac myxomas were diagnosed in 4 patients during the 3-year follow-up study period. Asymptomatic abnormalities of the corticotroph and somatotroph axis that did not meet criteria of PPNAD and acromegaly were observed in 11.4% and 30% of the patients, respectively. Patients carrying the PRKAR1A c.709-7del6 mutation had a mild phenotype.

Conclusion: This study underlines the importance of a systematic follow-up of the CNC manifestations, especially a biannual screening for cardiac myxoma. By contrast, regular screening for the other manifestations after a first extensive workup could be spread out, leading to a lighter and more acceptable follow-up schedule for patients. These are important results for recommendations for long-term management of CNC patients.