Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an genetic syndrome characterized by the early development of numerous adenomatous (precancerous) polyps in the colon.
Polyps, which can number in the hundreds, begin to appear in the colon by the second decade of life. Treatment for FAP is removal of the entire colon (colectomy) before the polyps become cancerous, usually in the late teenage years. Patients who do not undergo surgery have a near-universal risk of developing colorectal cancer before the age of 40.
Because this disorder is hereditary, people who have first degree relatives (parents, children, or siblings) with the known genetic mutation responsible for the FAP syndrome should undergo genetic testing and appropriate screening and management.
Sources:
Stanford Cancer Center. "Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)." Stanford University 2008. 27 Jan 2009.
