Increased risk of colorectal cancer associated with congenital anomalies of the urinary tract.

Two young mothers of children presenting with congenital anomalies of the urinary tract underwent colectomy for carcinoma or adenomatosis of the colon. In another family with urinary anomalies, the maternal grandmother had died from carcinoma of the colon at 36 years of age. This previously unreported associated led to two reviews. In the first, of 14 patients with colorectal cancer presenting under 45 years of age, three had known congenital urinary tract anomalies. In the second, which included the first three families, a detailed family history was obtained from children receiving treatment for congenital anomalies of the urinary tract. Seven of 116 grandparents and two mothers among 58 parents had colorectal carcinoma or adenomatosis of the colon; this was significantly greater than the expected incidence. A family history of congenital anomalies of the urinary tract may be a useful marker in screening for colorectal cancer.