UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL-DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH FAMILIAL ADENOMATOUS POLYPOSIS

Background Upper gastrointestinal disease has become an important aspe ct in the management of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis ( FAP). Methods A review of the literature was carried out using Medline . Epidemiology, pathology and treatment options are considered. Result s and conclusion Despite the fact that over 90 per cent of patients wi th FAP develop duodenal adenomas, only 5 per cent go on to develop can cer. In the absence of methods to detect who is at risk of cancer, all patients undergo regular endoscopic surveillance at present. Chemopre vention in the form of drug therapy may be the answer to controlling t he disease.