Familial Polyposis of the Colon
In this rare genetic disorder (1 in 8000 births) multiple adenomatous polyps develop gradually during childhood such that they characteristically carpet the entire colon. More than 1000 grossly visible polyps may form with many other nascent polyps demonstrable microscopically. Very rarely the ileum may be involved as well. The symptoms are those of bleeding and diarrhea, but the main clinical consequence is that of the virtual 100 per cent occurrence of carcinoma of the colon by age 40. When the diagnosis of familial polyposis is made, therefore, elective complete colectomy is required (usually after full growth has been atÂtained]. Because of its dominant transmission, other members of the family must be carefully surÂveyed.