Multiple familial polyposis and carcinoma of the colon: report of a case

Abstract

We report the case of a young woman with MFP who developed colonic adenocarcinoma nine years after the initial diagnosis; she had no clear. cut history of MFP. This one is a rare, hereditary disease, with a tendency to malignant degeneration; the frequency of colorectal carcinoma increases from 12% five years after initial diagnosis, to 100% 30 years later. In order to prevent carcinoma, colectomy should be performed as soon as possible after diagnosis. Different surgical approaches have been proposed; selection of which one to perform depends on age, number of polyps and presence of carcinoma. Every patient with MFP should be studied with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy since there is a high risk of gastric and duodenal polyps; these should also be resected in order to prevent their malignant degeneration.