Colonoscopy in asymptomatic individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer
R. R. Love and J. F. Morrissey
A prevalence screening program with colonoscopy was undertaken in four
kindreds manifesting the cancer family syndrome. Forty-five percent of
counseled patients underwent colonoscopy, providing 42 asymptomatic
individuals. Seven patients (17%) were found to have adenomatous or villous
polyps; two of these were malignant and one showed epithelial atypia. Three
of the seven patients with polyps had multiple lesions. Only two patients
had rectosigmoid polyps. From these limited data, colonoscopy is
recommended as a useful screening procedure in individuals at high risk for
colorectal cancer.
