The Most Common Types Of Colon Polyps And Polyp Disorders

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

Familial adenomatous polyposis is an inherited condition that affects the colon and rectum through the development of tissue masses or polyps. This condition can also cause the development of polyps in a patient's upper gastrointestinal tract and duodenum. Familial adenomatous polyposis is caused by a mutation that occurs in an individual's adenomatous polyposis coli gene or APC gene. The majority of patients inherit this mutation from their parents, but around a third experience the mutation spontaneously. When familial adenomatous polyposis is left untreated, an affected individual is expected to develop malignancy of the colon or rectum by the time they reach forty years old.

This condition can result in benign skin tumors, benign pigment changes in the retina, anemia, dental abnormalities, desmoids, ampulla polyps, and polyps in the stomach lining. In rare cases, this condition can cause cancers of the adrenal glands, liver, thyroid gland, and central nervous system. There is no way to cure familial adenomatous polyposis, but there are treatment options an individual can utilize to decrease the chance of developing cancer. Treatment may include the removal of all polyps in the colon, subtotal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis, total proctocolectomy with a continent ileostomy, or total proctocolectomy with ileoanal anastomosis.

Lynch Syndrome

Lynch syndrome is an inherited condition that may also be referred to as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. It causes a patient to be at an increased risk of developing endometrial cancer, colon cancer, and multiple other types of cancers. Lynch syndrome is the most common inherited condition that increases an individual's risk of colon cancer and endometrial cancer. Lynch syndrome is caused by a mutation in the DNA inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. This type of inheritance means there is a fifty percent probability an offspring will be affected by Lynch syndrome if one parent carries this particular gene mutation.

Lynch syndrome can be diagnosed through genetic testing for specific changes in the genes that indicate the condition. Individuals affected by Lynch syndrome may have colon cancer that develops before they reach fifty years old, a familial history of colon cancer at a young age, and a familial history of endometrial cancer. In addition, affected individuals may have a familial history of ovarian, stomach, liver, kidney, small intestine, and sweat gland cancer. Management of Lynch syndrome includes frequent cancer screening to increase the chance of early detection.