Familial colorectal cancer clinics

摘要

Familial cancer clinics strive to identify at-risk individuals with an inherited predisposition to cancer. Familial predisposition to colorectal cancer includes Familial Adenomatous Polyposis and Lynch Syndrome. The latter condition has no clear phenotype, leading to difficulties in its recognition. While family history remains an important tool in diagnosing inherited predisposition to cancer, many cases of Lynch Syndrome are diagnosed in the absence of a clear-cut family history. Therefore identification of Lynch Syndrome cases has moved in the direction of tumour-based testing, initially on cases selected for family history, young age of onset and tumour histological features, but now it has been suggested that Lynch Syndrome be screened for more widely via tissue testing of all newly diagnosed colorectal cancers under a certain age (e.g. 60 years).