Serrated adenoma in familial adenomatous polyposis: relation to germline APC gene mutation.

BACKGROUND Serrated adenoma is a precursor of colorectal cancer. AIM To clarify possible genotype-phenotype correlations of serrated adenomas in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). PATIENTS Eleven patients from eight families with FAP. METHODS We performed total colonoscopy with multiple biopsies in patients. Neoplasia with a serrated glandular structure was regarded as a serrated adenoma. In each patient, germline mutations of the APC gene were determined. Colonic phenotype was compared with germline mutations of the APC gene. RESULTS Serrated adenomas were found in three patients. These patients had macroscopic polyps <100 in number. Pedigrees with serrated adenomas had the truncating germline APC mutation at codon 161, 332, or 1556 while in the other pedigrees mutations were found between codons 554 and 1324. CONCLUSIONS In FAP, serrated adenoma may be a phenotype characteristic of the attenuated form.