[Search for genetic risk in surgical indications in oncology]

We report the case of 68-year-old woman with an adenocarcinoma of the right colon. The family history also suggested that she might also be at risk of ovarian or endometrial cancer. Thus despite the lack of gynecologic symptoms, abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was proposed at the time of the right colectomy endometrial carcinoma was discovered at surgery. This finding and the family pedigree were consistent with the diagnosis of familial Lynch II syndrome. Appropriate biomolecular analyses were undertaken. This case shows the importance of family history taking in patients with cancer. The surgeon should be aware of such situations and correlate indications and procedures with the genetic risk of the patients.