Key Concepts

• Colorectal cancer is caused by the accumulation of a variety of genetic alterations in colonic mucosa.
• Colorectal cancer can be hereditary or sporadic (not inherited). Both forms share many of the same genetic alterations.
• Multiple hereditary forms of colorectal cancer have an expected phenotype due to the genetic alteration that increases the likelihood of the cancer.
• Screening algorithms for colorectal cancer differ between hereditary and sporadic cancer based on the time expected for an adenoma to become a carcinoma in that patient.
• Hereditary forms of colorectal cancer are more commonly seen in patients with young onset colorectal cancer.
• Treatment algorithms for hereditary colorectal cancer are directed towards removal of the cancer and decreasing future risk of additional cancers.