Non-medullary thyroid cancer is not generally considered to have a genetic basis. However, in addition to the association of thyroid cancer with Mendelian cancer syndromes such as familial polyposis coli, there is evidence that a subset of papillary thyroid cancers may be ascribed to the inheritance of an autosomal dominant gene. It is therefore important not to restrict the collection of family histories from patients with thyroid cancers to those with medullary cancers. Furthermore, there is some evidence that familial forms of papillary carcinoma may warrant a more aggressive management, owing to the high incidence and comparatively swift occurrence of bilateral development. Identification of the genes involved in inherited forms of non-medullary thyroid cancer should provide insights into the pathogenesis of thyroid malig- nancy in general. Apart from the specific involvement of the APC gene when thyroid cancer occurs in association with FAP, identification of these genes awaits future linkage studies.
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