Abstract
Lynch's syndrome is a common cause of hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC), resulting
in higher risk of CRC and development of subsequent, metachronous CRC (mCRC). Beyond
treating the primary cancer, surgeons and patients must decide on whether performing
an extended colectomy, to reduce the risk of mCRC, is worth the change in function
that comes with the larger operation. Considerations include likelihood for mCRC,
morbidity and quality of life after resection, impact of pathogenic variant, and certain
other cancer risk reduction options. The contemporary evidence to guide these decisions
is reviewed herein.
Keywords
colon cancer - Lynch's syndrome - mismatch repair - colectomy - cancer surveillance
