Familial colonic carcinoma: a study of three Trinidadian families - abstract

ABSTRACT

Familial occurrence of colorectal carcinoma in the absense of polyposis is an uncommon but well-documented entity. Although colonic carcinoma is relatively uncommon in the developing world, 3 families with clustering of this tumour have been identified in Trinidad. In this first reporat of familial colonic cancer from the West Indies, the families were (one each) of African, Chinese and East Indian origin. There was slight male predominance (MF = 1.21). Early onset of the disease and poor prognosis were uniform features, with average age at death being 45.4 years. The right colonic involvement synchronously or metachronously occurred in the remainder. An aggressive policy of surveillance in affected members and screening in asymptomatic relatives should favourably alter the prognosis in such stricken families (AU)