I am concerned that the recommendation statement from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care on colorectal cancer screening1 did not mention the need to screen people with hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer for other types of cancer. In some kindreds with hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer, extracolonic malignancies including endometrial, bladder, stomach and other cancers have been reported.2 It is important to mention that other surveillance measures in addition to colonoscopy should be considered for people at risk of developing hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer;2 the article leaves the false impression that a colonoscopy is the only screening modality required in such kindreds.
Signature
Edmond G. Lemire
Medical Geneticist Royal University Hospital Saskatoon, Sask.
References
- 1.Colorectal cancer screening: recommendation statement from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care. CMAJ 2001;165(2): 206-8. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
- 2.Lindor NM, Greene MH. The concise handbook of family cancer syndromes. Mayo Familial Cancer Program. J Natl Cancer Inst 1998;90(14): 1039-71. [DOI] [PubMed]