ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)

What is familial adenomatous polyposis (fap)?

10 December 2025

This is a rare, low-incidence congenital condition characterized by the development of polyps in the colon and rectum, although they can also form in the upper gastrointestinal tract, especially in the duodenum. If not diagnosed and treated in time, these polyps can become cancerous.

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) is most often caused by alterations in a gene inherited from one of the parents. Therefore, it is important that if you have a parent, child, or sibling with this condition, you undergo annual medical check-ups to help detect the growth of polyps before they can trigger cancer. In rare cases, it may be due to a spontaneous genetic mutation.

Individuals with FAP have a higher risk that polyps will evolve into colon or rectal cancer by the age of 40.

People with FAP usually do not have symptoms, although there may be occult rectal bleeding.

Signs and symptoms Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)

  • Dental problems.
  • Anemia.
  • Benign pigmentation changes in the retina.
  • Jaw osteomas.
  • Polyps in the upper part of the small intestine.
  • Periampullary polyps that form where the bile and pancreatic ducts enter the duodenum.
  • Polyps in the stomach lining.
  • Cancerous tumors in the adrenal glands, liver, thyroid, or other organs.
  • Benign skin tumors.
  • Desmoid tumors, which can cause serious complications if they occur in nerves or blood vessels, or exert pressure on other organs of the body.

Diagnosis and treatment Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)

After analyzing your symptoms and clinical history, your doctor will perform a physical exam and order the following studies to help confirm the diagnosis and rule out other diseases:

  • Genetic testing.
  • Colonoscopy.
  • Endoscopy.
  • Thyroid tests.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  • Sigmoidoscopy.
  • Computed tomography (CT) scan.

Treatment for FAP usually includes various types of surgery to remove the tumors and/or part of the affected organs.

It is important to mention that FAP is not completely resolved with surgical procedures, as there is a risk that additional polyps may form in other areas of the body, requiring follow-up medical studies.

At the Internal Medicine Department of Centro Médico ABC, we provide medical care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies, both chronic-degenerative conditions and acute conditions, through an integral and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)

Internal medicine
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • seom.org
  • stjude.org
  • cun.es
  • topdoctors.es
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlinesplus.gov
  • msdmanuals.com
  • medigraphic.com
  • Chapa-Lobo AF, Salgado-Cruz LE, Garza-Cantú AA, et al. Cáncer colorrectal hereditario: presentación sincrónica de cáncer colorrectal y colangiocarcinoma en un paciente con poliposis adenomatosa familiar. Cir Gen. 2020;42(1):50-56. doi:10.35366/92712.
  • Güemes-Quinto A, Pichardo-Cruz DA, Tapia-Alanis M, et al. Poliposis adenomatosa familiar. Estado actual y reporte de caso. Cir Gen. 2020;42(4):316-320. doi:10.35366/101402.

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