| Abstract: | Prophylactic colectomy is indicated in patients whose colons are at very high risk of developing cancer. Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is the best example of a situation where prophylactic surgery is clearly necessary to prevent cancer, and has been shown to be effective in doing so. Recent advances in the molecular genetics of colorectal cancer have allowed presymptomatic diagnosis of patients with another dominantly inherited syndrome, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Prior to this, prophylactic colectomy had not been a consideration for patients in HNPCC families. |
