Management of Colorectal Cancer in Hereditary Syndromes

Approximately 5% of all colorectal cancers develop within a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome. Patients and families with these syndromes have an increased risk of colorectal and extracolonic cancers that develop at an early age. Recognition and diagnosis of these conditions are crucial to management and risk reduction. Surgeons must be aware of the unique aspects of the timing and extent of surgery (both therapeutic and prophylactic) within these syndromes, particularly for the most common syndromes, Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis.