Endoscopy 1999; 31(5): 337-341
DOI: 10.1055/s-1999-30
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Prevalence of HNPCC in a Series of Consecutive Patients on the First Endoscopic Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer: A Multicenter Study

 G. Riegler 1 ,  A. Savastano 1 ,  F. Selvaggi 1 ,  R. Ciociano 1 ,  R. Martino 1 ,  G. Riccio 1 ,  R. Iorio 1 ,  G. Ponti 1 ,  R. Carratú 1;,  and  the Italian Collaborative Group:,  P. Borgheresi 2 ,  G. de Filippo 2;,  G. B. Rossi 3 ,  A. M. Tempesta 3 ,  G. D. de Palma 4 ,  C. Catanzano 4 ,  P. Russo 5 ,  M. A. Bianco 5 ,  A. Piscitelli 6 ,  V. di Carlo 6 ,  V. Baldi 7 ,  P. Avagliano 7 ,  F. Guardascione 8 ,  G. Petrelli 8 ,  P. di Giorgio 9 ,  L. de Luca 9;,  E. d'Avenia 10 ,  D. Cattaneo 10;,  F. Montanaroi 11 ,  T. Maisto 11 ,  E. Parente 12 ,  R. Vincenti 12 ,  O. Saffiotti 13 ,  D. di Cesare 13 ,  M. Bozzi 14 ,  M. Beatrice 14
  • 1 Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Service, Dept. of Clinical and Experimental Internal Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples; 2 San Leonardo Hospital, Salerno 3 National Tumor Institute, Pascale Foundation, Naples; 4 Federico II University of Naples, Naples 5 Maresca Hospital, Torre Del Greco; 6 Second University of Naples, Naples 7 Santa Maria Incoronata Dell' Olmo Hospital, Cava Dei Tirreni 8 Civic Hospital, Giugliano in Campania; 9 Vecchio Pellegrini Hospital, Naples 10 Monaldi Hospital, Naples; 11 San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Frattamaggiore; 12 Sacro Cuore di Gesú Hospital, Benevento; 13 San Paolo Hospital, Naples; 14 Rummo Hospital, Benevento, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 1999 (online)

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Introduction

Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is a neoplastic syndrome transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait, and is also known as “Lynch syndrome” and “cancer family syndrome.” Recently, four genes responsible for HNPCC were isolated in the majority of the families studied (hMSH2, hMLH1, hPMS1, hPMS2) and germline mutations were reported in HNPCC patients [1] [2] [3] [4].

Determinations of the prevalence of HNPCC depend on the criteria used to diagnose it. The statistics appearing in the medical literature consequently vary from a prevalence of 1 % to 5 %, as they are based on different criteria [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]. The Amsterdam criteria established by the International Collaborative Group on Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer [14] have been used in recent years. These describe an HNPCC carrier as a member of a family with at least three cases of colorectal cancer, two of which have affected first-degree relatives in different generations, the other affecting a patient younger than 50.

It is difficult to measure the prevalence of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) in geographical areas that do not have tumor registers, as is the case in the present study; therefore it was decided to assess the prevalence in Italy using different methods.

References

G. RieglerM.D. 

Seconda Università

Via Mosca 39

80129 Napoli

Italy

Phone: + 39-081-5665112

Email: riegler@unina.it