[Familial colonic polyposis (author's transl)]

During the last 5 years, 7 families suffering from familial polyposis coli have been investigated; we found 23 members affected and we operated 10 of them. One of them died of metastases and 9 members of these pedigrees died of carcinoma which appeared at the average age of 41,5 years. This confirms that this condition is the most serious precancerous illness and needs regular controls of all members of these families. At the occasion of this review, we describe the main features of this condition and briefly our surgical attitude.