THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY STUDY IN THE PATIENTS WITH FAMILIAL ADENOMATOUS POLYPOSIS

Familiar adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a well-known autosomal dominan t disorder characterized by the formation of multiple adenomatous poly ps of the colon, Gardner's syndrome is a variant of familial polyposis coli, and both can be associated with colonic or extracolonic benign and/or malignant tumors. It has been widely recognized that an adenoca rcinoma of the colon develops in virtually all cases, usually at an ea rlier age, if polyps are left untreated. Families of four individuals diagnosed of FAP were surveyed and 56 relatives of the families were e xamined. Of these 56, 21 had multiple colon polyps, 3 of whom had earl y-stage adenocarcinomas. We consider that familial survey of FAP indiv iduals can be of considerable benefit for this high-risk population du e to the autosomal nature of the disease, allowing diagnosis of an ass ociated cancer at an earlier stage.