[Hereditary polyposis]

1. The familial polyposis coli is a precancerosis. At an age of about 40 years the majority of the untreated carriers of symptoms dies of the malignant degeneration of a multiple polyp in colon and rectum. The only promising therapy is the possibly extensive removal of all polyps. Only the early total or subtotal colectomy, the latter with an ileorectal anastomosis, come into consideration. In these cases a life-long control of the rectum is necessary. The heredity is dominantly autosomal. 2. In the Peutz-Jeghers-syndrome numerous. In most cases benign polyps are found in all parts of the gastrointestinal tract, above all in the small intestine. Complications are haemorrhages and invaginations due to weakness of the connective tissue of the intestinal wall. Resections of the intestine are necessary only in appearances of the ileus. The diagnosis can easily be made at the above all perioral pigment patches. Irregularly dominant heredity. On the basis of two own family observations the importance of the genetic family consultation is emphasized.