Over 1,900 colorectal tumors will arise in association with a hereditary
colorectal cancer syndrome in Spain in 2009. The genetic defects responsible for
the most common syndromes have been discovered in recent years. Genetic testing
helps diagnose affected individuals and allows identification of individuals
at-risk. Colonoscopy and prophylactic colectomy decrease colorectal cancer
incidence and overall mortality in patients with hereditary colon cancer.
Extracolonic tumors are frequent in these syndromes, so specific surveillance
strategies should be offere