The surgeon, genetics, and cancer control: the Cancer Family Syndrome.

A family manifesting the Cancer Family Syndrome has been evaluated extensively from the medical and genetic standpoint. Findings of excess occurrence of carcinoma of the colon and endometrium, multiple primary cancer, early age of onset, and autosomal dominant mode of genetic transmission mandate a program of increased surveillance and cancer education. Prophylactic surgical implications are provided for certain of these enormously high cancer risk patients.