Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

Also known as: FAP.

What is familial adenomatous polyposis?

Familial adenomatous polyposis is a genetic disorder that causes polyps to begin to develop in the colon and rectum over time. Eventually, these polyps can cause colon cancer.

What causes familial adenomatous polyposis?

Familial adenomatous polyposis is caused by a genetic mutation that can be passed along from parents to their children.
 

What are the symptoms of familial adenomatous polyposis?

The presence of the polyps in the colon or rectum is the common symptom of familial adenomatous polyposis. Often the condition causes no other symptoms.
 

What are familial adenomatous polyposis care options?

Colorectal screenings are the best tool for detecting the presence of familial adenomatous polyposis. If it is discovered, usually a combination of monitoring and eventually surgery, with the potential for additional therapies are used to treat the condition.

Reviewed by: Carrie Firestone Baum, MD

This page was last updated on: January 03, 2022 03:34 PM