Colonoscopy in asymptomatic individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer.

A prevalence screening program with colonoscopy was undertaken in four kindreds manifesting the cancer family syndrome. Forty-five percent of counseled patients underwent colonoscopy, providing 42 asymptomatic individuals. Seven patients (17%) were found to have adenomatous or villous polyps; two of these were malignant and one showed epithelial atypia. Three of the seven patients with polyps had multiple lesions. Only two patients had rectosigmoid polyps. From these limited data, colonoscopy is recommended as a useful screening procedure in individuals at high risk for colorectal cancer.