1. Familial and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer: issues relevant for surgical practice.
- Author
-
Menko FH, Wijnen JT, Vasen HF, Sijmons RH, and Khan PM
- Subjects
- Adenomatous Polyps diagnosis, Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis diagnosis, DNA, Neoplasm analysis, Female, Humans, Male, Pedigree, Adenomatous Polyps surgery, Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis surgery
- Abstract
About 15% of patients with colorectal cancer report a family history of this disease. An estimated 1%-5% of patients have hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Recently, DNA mismatch repair genes associated with this syndrome were identified. For about 50% of families in which HNPCC occurs, DNA-based diagnosis and presymptomatic DNA testing are now feasible. Diagnosis of a hereditary tumour syndrome is relevant for both the patient with cancer and his or her close relatives. The complexities of family studies warrant the forming of a multidisciplinary team which may choose to work within a specialized cancer family clinic.
- Published
- 1998
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