An update on risk assessment for familial and hereditary colorectal cancer.

Family history risk assessment can identify individuals at increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) who would benefit from earlier or more frequent CRC screening. Clinicians should evaluate the patient's family history as well as personal history to identify red flags and patterns that may suggest predisposition to CRC and then use that information to stratify risk into average, increased, and high risk categories to inform genetic counseling recommendations and personalized management.