Patient accuracy of reporting on hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer-related malignancy in family members

TY - JOUR

T1 - Patient accuracy of reporting on hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer-related malignancy in family members

AU - Katballe, Niels

AU - Juul, Svend

AU - Christensen, M.

AU - Ørntoft, Torben Falck

AU - Wikman, Friedrik

AU - Laurberg, Søren

N1 - Paper id:: 11531872

PY - 2001

Y1 - 2001

N2 - BACKGROUND: The cancer family history is important in identifying individuals with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). The accuracy of a suspected HNPCC family history reported by patients with colorectal cancer was evaluated. METHODS: This was a prospective population-based study including consecutive patients with colorectal cancer. A questionnaire covering the occurrence of malignancy among relatives was completed. RESULTS: A total of 1200 patients with colorectal cancer completed the questionnaire. Fulfilment of Amsterdam criteria I or II according to the patients' reports was rejected in three of 14 cases (false-positive rate 21 per cent). Furthermore, seven of 18 probands whose families met the Amsterdam criteria I or II after verification were identified by further exploration in families who, according to the probands, met weaker criteria (false-negative rate 39 per cent). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that family studies on HNPCC are not reliable unless the diagnoses of family members are verified from official sources. If endoscopic screening is offered entirely on the basis of unverified information from patients with colorectal cancer, there is a risk that a large proportion of the families will not be offered relevant surveillance.

AB - BACKGROUND: The cancer family history is important in identifying individuals with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). The accuracy of a suspected HNPCC family history reported by patients with colorectal cancer was evaluated. METHODS: This was a prospective population-based study including consecutive patients with colorectal cancer. A questionnaire covering the occurrence of malignancy among relatives was completed. RESULTS: A total of 1200 patients with colorectal cancer completed the questionnaire. Fulfilment of Amsterdam criteria I or II according to the patients' reports was rejected in three of 14 cases (false-positive rate 21 per cent). Furthermore, seven of 18 probands whose families met the Amsterdam criteria I or II after verification were identified by further exploration in families who, according to the probands, met weaker criteria (false-negative rate 39 per cent). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that family studies on HNPCC are not reliable unless the diagnoses of family members are verified from official sources. If endoscopic screening is offered entirely on the basis of unverified information from patients with colorectal cancer, there is a risk that a large proportion of the families will not be offered relevant surveillance.

U2 - 10.1046/j.0007-1323.2001.01868.x

DO - 10.1046/j.0007-1323.2001.01868.x

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0007-1323

VL - 9

SP - 1228

EP - 1233

JO - British Journal of Surgery

JF - British Journal of Surgery

IS - 88

ER -