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Condition

Lynch Syndrome

Neoplasms

Lynch syndrome is an inherited genetic condition that greatly increases a person's lifetime risk of colorectal cancer and several other cancers, including cancers of the endometrium, ovary, stomach and urinary tract. It is caused by an inherited mutation in one of the DNA mismatch repair genes, most commonly MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 or PMS2, which normally correct errors made when DNA is copied; when repair fails, mutations accumulate rapidly in dividing cells. The syndrome is named for the American physician Henry Lynch, who spent decades studying families with a strong hereditary pattern of colorectal cancer, and it was formerly known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. People known to carry a Lynch syndrome mutation are typically offered earlier and more frequent cancer screening, since finding tumors at an early stage substantially improves outcomes.

Facts
Classification
Body System
Digestive System 1
ICD-10 Chapter
II: Neoplasms 2
Communicable or Non-communicable
Non-Communicable 3
Transmission Route
Non-Transmissible 3
Causative Agent
Causative Agent (category)
Genetic / Hereditary 1
First Described
1984 4
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer
Wikipedia
  • lead sentence 2
    HNPCC is synonymous with Lynch syndrome, an autosomal dominant genetic condition that is most commonly associated with a high risk of colon cancer and secondarily most associated with endometrial cancer, as well as ovarian, stomach, small intestine, hepatobiliary tract, upper urinary tract, brain, and skin cancers.
  • Lead section, body-system statement
    Lynch syndrome is an inherited genetic condition that greatly increases a person's lifetime risk of colorectal cancer and several other cancers, including cancers of the endometrium, ovary, stomach and urinary tract.
View the Source
2. Wikipedia: ICD-10
WikipediaList of chapters, Chapter II
Quote, List of chapters, Chapter II
Neoplasms
View the Source
3. World Health Organization: Noncommunicable diseases (fact sheet)
World Health Organization
  • Lead section, transmission-route statement (inferred from disease-category)
    The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.
  • Main Types section
    The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.
View the Source
4. Lynch Syndrome (Wikipedia)
Term Lynch syndrome coined in 1984View the Source
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