Current status of prophylactic surgical treatment for familial adenomatous polyposis in Japan

Abstract

Purpose: We conducted this study to clarify the current clinical practice of prophylactic colectomy for patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) in Japan.

Methods: This retrospective multi-center cohort study involved 23 specialized institutions for colorectal disease in Japan. We analyzed the records of 147 patients who underwent prophylactic surgical treatment between 2000 and 2012. Patients were divided into Group 1 (2000-2006) and Group 2 (2007-2012) based on their date of surgery.

Results: Age at the time of prophylactic surgery was 27 and 31 years in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. The proportion of attenuated FAP was significantly lower in Group 2 than in Group 1 (1.0 vs. 13 %, respectively). Pathological examination revealed an increased incidence of malignant polyps in the resected specimens from Group 2 patients (10 vs. 23 %, respectively; P = 0.034). Laparoscopic surgery was more frequent in Group 2 than in Group 1 (61 vs. 40 %, respectively). There was no surgical mortality in either group.

Conclusion: Prophylactic surgery for FAP results in good short-term surgical outcomes in Japan. The current surgical approach is characterized by limited surgical indications for patients with attenuated FAP, delayed timing of colectomy, and the increasing standardization of laparoscopic surgery.

Keywords: Familial adenomatous polyposis; Hereditary colorectal cancer; Proctocolectomy; Prophylactic surgery; Total colectomy.