Let me start by saying: If you’ve ever seen a case of Carney Complex, you either a) had a great genetics lecturer or b) had an unforgettable ward round where someone confused a skin spot for a coffee stain ☕. 😀
Carney Complex is the ultimate clinical mixtape — cardiac tumors, skin spots, hormonal chaos — all rolled into one very rare, very exam-favorite syndrome. It’s the sort of case that makes you mutter “This has to be genetic. And it is.”
🧠 What is Carney Complex?
A rare autosomal dominant syndrome caused by mutations in the PRKAR1A gene, leading to a combo of neoplasms, pigmentations, and endocrine dysfunctions.
Think of it as MEN syndrome’s eccentric cousin who decided to go into dermatology and dabble in cardiology on weekends.
Carney Complex Mnemonic: “MY PEACH PAL”
| Letter | Represents | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| M | Myxomas (Cardiac) | Most dangerous — esp. atrial myxomas → emboli, syncope, sudden death. 🫀 |
| Y | Young Age of Onset | Usually presents in childhood or young adulthood. |
| P | Pigmented Skin Lesions | Lentigines, blue nevi — perioral, conjunctival, genital. |
| E | Endocrine Tumors | Adrenal (PPNAD), testicular (LCCSCT), pituitary — all in the mix. |
| A | Acromegaly | Due to GH-producing pituitary adenomas. 🧠 |
| C | Cushing’s Syndrome | From Primary Pigmented Nodular Adrenocortical Disease (PPNAD). |
| H | Hereditary (AD pattern) | PRKAR1A mutation — strong family history clue! 🧬 |
| P | Psammomatous Melanotic Schwannomas | Rare nerve sheath tumors, but classic in Carney. |
| A | Atrial Myxomas (Again) | Yes, it’s that important — and often multiple + recurrent. |
| L | Large Cell Calcifying Sertoli Cell Tumor | Seen in testes, can be hormonally active or silent. |
👨⚕️ Seen It in Quetta!
I once reviewed a teenage boy at Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Hospital for recurrent syncope. Turns out he had a left atrial myxoma (classic Carney!). During the echo review, I noticed spotty hyperpigmented lesions on his face — not acne, not freckles. He also had borderline elevated cortisol.
That’s when it clicked: We’re not dealing with isolated issues. We’re in Carney territory.
Alright, that’s it for today! I hope that you people enjoy this blog post. Happy learning, folks! 🙂
Authored by:
Dr. Aurangzaib Qambrani
MBBS | PLAB | MRCP-UK
General Medicine, Gastroenterology & CCU
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Hospital, Quetta 🏥
