[Hereditary colorectal carcinomas - reflection on preventive surgery]

Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC) accounts for about 5% of all colorectal cancers and is the most frequent familial form; familial adenomatous polyposis coli accounts for about 1%. Prerequisitive for individually tailored surveillance is the identification of the pathogenic germline mutation. In classical FAP, surgical standard is a restorative proctocolectomy while in HNPCC there is no surgical standard other than standard oncological resection due to missing evidence. In HNPCC, prophylactic colectomy before the onset of the first colorectal cancer is not recommended. Main arguments for the extension of the resection in the case of the first colorectal carcinoma in HNPCC are the rate of metachronous colorectal carcinomas of 40-45% in a 10-year interval and rapid tumor progression. In HNPCC, in the case of first colon cancer a subtotal colectomy seems to be indicated. A proctocolectomy or, if indicated, a restorative proctocolectomy may be considered in the case of carcinomas in the lower rectum. These considerations should be evaluated in a prospective clinical trial. Counselling, molecular diagnosis and surgery in patients with hereditary colorectal cancers should only be performed in interdisciplinary centers.