Meningiomas petroclivais são tumores da base do crânio desafiadores para ressecção cirúrgica devido a sua localização profunda e relação com estruturas neurovasculares vitais. Geralmente são lesões benignas, mas podem envolver ou infiltrar o osso da base do crânio, dura-máter, tronco encefálico e todas as estruturas neurovasculares desta região, tornando a remoção total difícil sem causar déficits neurológicos. O objetivo deste estudo é revisar uma série de casos de meningiomas petroclivais tratados cirurgicamente em centro de referência de base de crânio, considerando os fatores determinantes para a escolha da abordagem. A casuística foi analisada com coleta retrospectiva dos dados. Devido à dificuldade de acesso, essas lesões geralmente requerem diferentes abordagens cirúrgicas e apresentam dificuldades cirúrgicas distintas. Embora as abordagens fronto-órbito-zigomática, petrosas, incluindo présigmoide retrolabiríntica, translabiríntica e petrosectomia total, e a retrossigmoide sejam as mais utilizadas para ressecção destes tumores, não foi realizado até o presente momento estudo comparativo que determine qual abordagem apresenta maior grau de ressecção cirúrgica associada a menor taxa de morbidade. / Petroclival meningiomas are challenging skull base tumors for surgical resection because of its deep location and their relationship to vital neurovascular structures. They are usually benign, but may involve or infiltrate the bone of the skull base, dura, brain stem and all neurovascular structures in this region, making it difficult to completely remove without causing neurological deficits. The aim of this study is to review a surgical series of petroclival meningioma treated in a referral center for skull base tumors, considering the determining factors to the choice of approach. The casuistry was analyzed with retrospective data collection. Due to difficult access, these injuries usually require different surgical approaches and have different surgical difficulties. Although the fronto-orbital-zygomatic, petrous, including retrolabyrinthine pre-sigmoid, translabyrinthine and total petrosectomy, and retrosigmoid are frequently used for resection of these tumors, it has not been realized to date comparative study to determine which approach has greater degree of surgical resection associated with lower morbidity rate.

New surgical approaches for total hip arthroplasty (THA) are being developed to reduce muscle damage sustained during surgery, in the hope to allow better muscle functioning afterwards. The goal of this study was to compare the muscle sparing anterior (ANT) approach to a traditional lateral (LAT) approach with three-dimensional motion analysis. Kinematics and kinetics were obtained with an infrared camera system and force plates. It was hypothesized that (1) the ANT group would have closer to normal range of motion, moments and powers, compared to the LAT group, and that (2) the ANT group would have higher peak hip abduction moment than the LAT group. Forty patients undergoing unilateral THA for osteoarthritis between the ages of 50 and 75 (20 ANT, 20 LAT) were asked to perform three trials of walking, stair ascent and stair descent. Patients were assessed between six to twelve months postoperatively. Twenty age- and weight-matched control participants (CON) provided normative data. Results indicated that both THA groups had gait anomalies compared to the CON group. Both THA groups had reduced hip abduction moment during walking (CON vs. ANT: p<0.001; CON vs. LAT: p=0.011), and the ANT group had a significantly lower hip abduction moment compared to the LAT group (p=0.008). Similar results were observed during stair descent, where the ANT group had reduced peak hip abduction moment compared to the CON group (p<0.001) and the LAT group (p=0.014). This indicates that the anterior approach did not allow better gait and stair climbing ability after THA. It is therefore thought that other variables, such as preoperative gait adaptations, trauma from the surgery, or postoperative protection mechanisms to avoid loading the prosthetic hip, are factors that might be more important than surgical approach in determining the mechanics of THA patients after surgery.

New surgical approaches for total hip arthroplasty (THA) are being developed to reduce muscle damage sustained during surgery, in the hope to allow better muscle functioning afterwards. The goal of this study was to compare the muscle sparing anterior (ANT) approach to a traditional lateral (LAT) approach with three-dimensional motion analysis. Kinematics and kinetics were obtained with an infrared camera system and force plates. It was hypothesized that (1) the ANT group would have closer to normal range of motion, moments and powers, compared to the LAT group, and that (2) the ANT group would have higher peak hip abduction moment than the LAT group. Forty patients undergoing unilateral THA for osteoarthritis between the ages of 50 and 75 (20 ANT, 20 LAT) were asked to perform three trials of walking, stair ascent and stair descent. Patients were assessed between six to twelve months postoperatively. Twenty age- and weight-matched control participants (CON) provided normative data. Results indicated that both THA groups had gait anomalies compared to the CON group. Both THA groups had reduced hip abduction moment during walking (CON vs. ANT: p<0.001; CON vs. LAT: p=0.011), and the ANT group had a significantly lower hip abduction moment compared to the LAT group (p=0.008). Similar results were observed during stair descent, where the ANT group had reduced peak hip abduction moment compared to the CON group (p<0.001) and the LAT group (p=0.014). This indicates that the anterior approach did not allow better gait and stair climbing ability after THA. It is therefore thought that other variables, such as preoperative gait adaptations, trauma from the surgery, or postoperative protection mechanisms to avoid loading the prosthetic hip, are factors that might be more important than surgical approach in determining the mechanics of THA patients after surgery.

New surgical approaches for total hip arthroplasty (THA) are being developed to reduce muscle damage sustained during surgery, in the hope to allow better muscle functioning afterwards. The goal of this study was to compare the muscle sparing anterior (ANT) approach to a traditional lateral (LAT) approach with three-dimensional motion analysis. Kinematics and kinetics were obtained with an infrared camera system and force plates. It was hypothesized that (1) the ANT group would have closer to normal range of motion, moments and powers, compared to the LAT group, and that (2) the ANT group would have higher peak hip abduction moment than the LAT group. Forty patients undergoing unilateral THA for osteoarthritis between the ages of 50 and 75 (20 ANT, 20 LAT) were asked to perform three trials of walking, stair ascent and stair descent. Patients were assessed between six to twelve months postoperatively. Twenty age- and weight-matched control participants (CON) provided normative data. Results indicated that both THA groups had gait anomalies compared to the CON group. Both THA groups had reduced hip abduction moment during walking (CON vs. ANT: p<0.001; CON vs. LAT: p=0.011), and the ANT group had a significantly lower hip abduction moment compared to the LAT group (p=0.008). Similar results were observed during stair descent, where the ANT group had reduced peak hip abduction moment compared to the CON group (p<0.001) and the LAT group (p=0.014). This indicates that the anterior approach did not allow better gait and stair climbing ability after THA. It is therefore thought that other variables, such as preoperative gait adaptations, trauma from the surgery, or postoperative protection mechanisms to avoid loading the prosthetic hip, are factors that might be more important than surgical approach in determining the mechanics of THA patients after surgery.

Meningiomas petroclivais são tumores da base do crânio desafiadores para ressecção cirúrgica devido a sua localização profunda e relação com estruturas neurovasculares vitais. Geralmente são lesões benignas, mas podem envolver ou infiltrar o osso da base do crânio, dura-máter, tronco encefálico e todas as estruturas neurovasculares desta região, tornando a remoção total difícil sem causar déficits neurológicos. O objetivo deste estudo é revisar uma série de casos de meningiomas petroclivais tratados cirurgicamente em centro de referência de base de crânio, considerando os fatores determinantes para a escolha da abordagem. A casuística foi analisada com coleta retrospectiva dos dados. Devido à dificuldade de acesso, essas lesões geralmente requerem diferentes abordagens cirúrgicas e apresentam dificuldades cirúrgicas distintas. Embora as abordagens fronto-órbito-zigomática, petrosas, incluindo présigmoide retrolabiríntica, translabiríntica e petrosectomia total, e a retrossigmoide sejam as mais utilizadas para ressecção destes tumores, não foi realizado até o presente momento estudo comparativo que determine qual abordagem apresenta maior grau de ressecção cirúrgica associada a menor taxa de morbidade. / Petroclival meningiomas are challenging skull base tumors for surgical resection because of its deep location and their relationship to vital neurovascular structures. They are usually benign, but may involve or infiltrate the bone of the skull base, dura, brain stem and all neurovascular structures in this region, making it difficult to completely remove without causing neurological deficits. The aim of this study is to review a surgical series of petroclival meningioma treated in a referral center for skull base tumors, considering the determining factors to the choice of approach. The casuistry was analyzed with retrospective data collection. Due to difficult access, these injuries usually require different surgical approaches and have different surgical difficulties. Although the fronto-orbital-zygomatic, petrous, including retrolabyrinthine pre-sigmoid, translabyrinthine and total petrosectomy, and retrosigmoid are frequently used for resection of these tumors, it has not been realized to date comparative study to determine which approach has greater degree of surgical resection associated with lower morbidity rate.

Meningiomas petroclivais são tumores da base do crânio desafiadores para ressecção cirúrgica devido a sua localização profunda e relação com estruturas neurovasculares vitais. Geralmente são lesões benignas, mas podem envolver ou infiltrar o osso da base do crânio, dura-máter, tronco encefálico e todas as estruturas neurovasculares desta região, tornando a remoção total difícil sem causar déficits neurológicos. O objetivo deste estudo é revisar uma série de casos de meningiomas petroclivais tratados cirurgicamente em centro de referência de base de crânio, considerando os fatores determinantes para a escolha da abordagem. A casuística foi analisada com coleta retrospectiva dos dados. Devido à dificuldade de acesso, essas lesões geralmente requerem diferentes abordagens cirúrgicas e apresentam dificuldades cirúrgicas distintas. Embora as abordagens fronto-órbito-zigomática, petrosas, incluindo présigmoide retrolabiríntica, translabiríntica e petrosectomia total, e a retrossigmoide sejam as mais utilizadas para ressecção destes tumores, não foi realizado até o presente momento estudo comparativo que determine qual abordagem apresenta maior grau de ressecção cirúrgica associada a menor taxa de morbidade. / Petroclival meningiomas are challenging skull base tumors for surgical resection because of its deep location and their relationship to vital neurovascular structures. They are usually benign, but may involve or infiltrate the bone of the skull base, dura, brain stem and all neurovascular structures in this region, making it difficult to completely remove without causing neurological deficits. The aim of this study is to review a surgical series of petroclival meningioma treated in a referral center for skull base tumors, considering the determining factors to the choice of approach. The casuistry was analyzed with retrospective data collection. Due to difficult access, these injuries usually require different surgical approaches and have different surgical difficulties. Although the fronto-orbital-zygomatic, petrous, including retrolabyrinthine pre-sigmoid, translabyrinthine and total petrosectomy, and retrosigmoid are frequently used for resection of these tumors, it has not been realized to date comparative study to determine which approach has greater degree of surgical resection associated with lower morbidity rate.

New surgical approaches for total hip arthroplasty (THA) are being developed to reduce muscle damage sustained during surgery, in the hope to allow better muscle functioning afterwards. The goal of this study was to compare the muscle sparing anterior (ANT) approach to a traditional lateral (LAT) approach with three-dimensional motion analysis. Kinematics and kinetics were obtained with an infrared camera system and force plates. It was hypothesized that (1) the ANT group would have closer to normal range of motion, moments and powers, compared to the LAT group, and that (2) the ANT group would have higher peak hip abduction moment than the LAT group. Forty patients undergoing unilateral THA for osteoarthritis between the ages of 50 and 75 (20 ANT, 20 LAT) were asked to perform three trials of walking, stair ascent and stair descent. Patients were assessed between six to twelve months postoperatively. Twenty age- and weight-matched control participants (CON) provided normative data. Results indicated that both THA groups had gait anomalies compared to the CON group. Both THA groups had reduced hip abduction moment during walking (CON vs. ANT: p<0.001; CON vs. LAT: p=0.011), and the ANT group had a significantly lower hip abduction moment compared to the LAT group (p=0.008). Similar results were observed during stair descent, where the ANT group had reduced peak hip abduction moment compared to the CON group (p<0.001) and the LAT group (p=0.014). This indicates that the anterior approach did not allow better gait and stair climbing ability after THA. It is therefore thought that other variables, such as preoperative gait adaptations, trauma from the surgery, or postoperative protection mechanisms to avoid loading the prosthetic hip, are factors that might be more important than surgical approach in determining the mechanics of THA patients after surgery.

Die Entwicklung moderner minimal-invasiver Diagnose- und Behandlungsverfahren auf dem Gebiet der kolorektalen Adenome und Karzinome ermöglicht eine effektive Überwachung von Risikopersonen, andererseits erfolgt durch die endoskopische Abtragung oder transanale bzw. TEM-technische Resektion von Adenomen bereits eine erhebliche Karzinomprävention. Die Einführung der laparoskopischen Technik bei der Resektion kolorektaler Tumoren könnte nach Evaluierung der bisherigen Ergebnisse zu einer weiteren Verringerung der Hospitalisierung und operationsassoziierten Morbidität der Patienten bei gleicher Prognose führen. Kennzeichnend für familiäre Formen des kolorektalen Karzinoms ist das hohe Risiko für die Entwicklung kolorektaler Tumoren, jedoch auch für weitere extrakolonische Neoplasien. Dies trifft für das hereditäre Nicht-Polyposis-assoziierte kolorektale Karzinom (HNPCC), die familiäre Polyposis (FAP) und die selteneren Formen wie Peutz-Jeghers-Syndrom und juvenile Polyposis zu. Die Anwendung der molekularen Diagnostik in diesen Familien ermöglicht durch die Identifizierung von Mutationsträgern und Nichtmutationsträgern einerseits die gezielte Eingliederung von Hochrisikopersonen (Mutationsträgern) in spezielle, auf das jeweilige Syndrom zugeschnittene Überwachungs- und Vorsorgeprogramme und erspart andererseits Personen mit durchschnittlichem Risiko (Nichtmutationsträgern) unnötige und teilweise invasive Diagnostik. Bezüglich des chirurgischen Vorgehens bei Patienten mit einer Form des hereditären kolorektalen Karzinoms gibt es bereits etablierte Verfahren, wie die Durchführung einer restaurativen Proktokolektomie bei der FAP, bei anderen Formen, wie bei HNPCC, sind diese noch in der Diskussion. Wesentliche Fortschritte bei der Prävention kolorektaler Tumoren sind in den nächsten Jahren möglicherweise auf dem Gebiet der Chemoprävention zu erwarten. / Development of modern, minimally invasive methods for diagnosis and treatment in the field of colorectal tumours enables an effective surveillance for persons at high risk as well as a distinct cancer prevention by endoscopic, transanal or TEM removal of colorectal adenomas. Introduction of laparoscopic techniques in the resection of colorectal tumours could entail, after evaluation of preliminary results, a decreased duration of hospitalisation and procedure-associated morbidity in patients with the same prognosis. The very high risk for development of colorectal tumours as well as for some extracolonic neoplasia is typical for familial colorectal cancer syndromes. This concerns hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) syndrome, familial polyposis coli, and the infrequent forms like Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and juvenile polyposis. Molecular diagnostics has the power to identify carriers and noncarriers of a mutated gene in these families and therefore may permit clear-cut decisions regarding inclusion in special surveillance programmes, which is recommended for all persons at risk from affected families. Concerning the surgical approach in patients with hereditary colorectal cancer, well-accepted routine procedures like restorative proctocolectomy in familiar polyposis patients have already been established; in other forms like HNPCC the best surgical modality is still under discussion. Remarkable progress in the prevention of colorectal tumours could be expected from chemoprevention trials in the next years. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Femoral neck fracture (FNF) is a great challenge for today´s health care and is associated with high mortality and morbidity in the elderly.  In the short term several studies in the literature have demonstrated improved hip function, quality of life and fewer re-operations in elderly patients treated with total hip arthroplasty (THA) instead of internal fixation (IF). There are few reports on the long-term outcome comparing IF and THA. The vast majority of orthopaedic departments in Sweden use the direct lateral (DL) or posteriolateral (PL) approaches for hip arthroplasty. The PL approach has been linked to an increased risk of dislocation of the prosthesis and a higher rate of revision surgery in comparison to the DL approach. There are few reports focusing on radiological risk factors for prosthetic dislocation and patient reported hip function comparing the two surgical approaches for hip arthroplasty in FNF. The randomized controlled trial (RCT) is the gold standard for evaluating medical or surgical interventions. An RCT of high quality has to be internally and externally valid. Internal validity refers to a correct study design to avoid bias skewing the results. External validity (EV) refers to whether the results will be clinically relevant to a definable group of patients and can be extrapolated to the general health care situation. There are only a few reports in the orthopaedic literature focusing on the EV of published studies and none in the field of hip fractures. Study I: This is a RCT of 100 patients with a displaced FNF comparing THA and IF. Follow-up evaluations were performed at three months and 1, 2, 4, 11 and 17 years. It was found that the Harris hip score (HHS) was higher and the rate of reoperations lower for patients treated with THA. Study II: This is a prospective cohort study of 185 hips, comparing the DL and the PL approaches in patients treated with a hemiarthroplasty (HA) for a displaced FNF. Follow-up was after 1 year. There was no difference in patient reported outcome between the groups measured with the HHS and WOMAC index. The PL approach resulted in a higher re-operation rate while the DL approach in a higher incidence of limping. Study III: This is a retrospective cohort study of 373 patients with a cemented bipolar HA using a PL approach for a FNF with a follow-up ranging from 6 months to 7 years. Radiographs and all surgical records were reviewed regarding femoral offset (FO), leg length discrepancy (LLD) and Wiberg angle. Patients with recurrent dislocations had a decreased postoperative FO, LLD and shallower acetabulum on the operated side compared with their controls. Study IV: This is a prospective cohort study of 840 hips comparing patients included in a RCT with those that did not give their informed consent (NC) or did not fulfill the criteria for participating in the trial (MS). Patients in the NC and MS groups had an increased mortality rate in comparison to those included in the study. We did not find any differences in hip function between these groups. The main conclusions of this thesis are: Healthy and lucid elderly patients with good hip function preoperatively, should be treated with THA for a displaced FNF. The DL approach is favourable in treating displaced FNF with HA due to its decreased risk of reoperation but with an identical hip function outcome as the PL approach. Care should be taken to restore the LLD and FO otherwise this may increase the risk of recurrent dislocation of a HA. Our findings suggest that trial participants had a lower mortality rate than non-participants but the functional outcome of non-participants appeared to be satisfactory. This is important to take into consideration when extrapolating study results to a health care system. / Lårbenshalsfrakturer (FNF) är en utmaning för dagens sjukvård och förknippad med hög mortalitet i den äldre befolkningen. FNF orsakas främst av lågenergitrauma efter fall i samma plan hos patienter med benskörhet. Total höftledsprotes (THA) har visat sig ge en bättre höftfunktion, livskvalitet med färre omoperationer hos äldre patienter än sluten reposition samt fixering med skruvar (IF) under de första två-fyra åren efter operation. Få studier har publicerats med långtidsuppföljning av THA jämfört med IF. Vid behandling av felställd FNF med halv höftledsplastik (HA) eller THA finns olika kirurgiska metoder (snittföring) för implantation av protesen. Majoriteten av ortopedkliniker i Sverige använder direkt lateral (DL) eller posteriolateral (PL) snittföring. PL har kopplats till en ökad risk för luxation av protesen (urledsvridning), vilket i sin tur genererat en högre risk för omoperation jämfört med DL. Få studier har utvärderat höftfunktion med avseende på snittföring. Detsamma gäller vilka radiologiska faktorer som påverkar risken förprotesluxation. Det finns olika typer av studiedesigner för utvärdering av medicinska och kirurgiska behandlingsmetoder. Studiedesignen med högst bevisvärde anses vara den randomiserade kontrollerade studien (RCT). För att en RCT skall hålla hög kvalitet krävs intern och extern validitet. Intern validitet syftar på ett korrekt studieupplägg som mäter det som avses och undviker påverkan av icke önskvärda faktorer. Extern validitet (EV) innebär att erhållna resultat från studien är generaliserbara och kan extrapoleras till andra grupper än den studerade. Det inga rapporter i ortopediska litteraturen med fokus på EV med patienter som drabbats av FNF. Studie I: Prospektiv randomiserad studie av 100 patienter med en felställd FNF jämförs THA med IF med avseende på höftfunktion och reoperationer. Uppföljning gjordes efter tre månader samt 1, 2, 4, 11 och 17 år. HHS som mått på höftfunktion var högre och andelen reoperationer lägre för patienter som behandlades med THA. Studie II: Prospektiv kohortstudie med 183 patienter med felställd FNF behandlade med HA och antingen DL eller PL. Vi fann ingen skillnad i patientrapporterad höftfunktion utvärderat med HHS och WOMAC efter 1 år men en ökad förekomst av hälta vid DL. Studie III: Retrospektiv kohortstudie av 373 patienter opererade med en cementerad bipolär HA och PL. Postoperativa röntgenbilder granskades avseende femoral offset (FO), postoperativ benlägdsskillnad (LLD) samt acetabulär Wibergvinkel och relaterades till återkommande protesluxationer. Detta relaterades till återkommande luxationer. Uppföljningstiden varierade mellan 6 månader och 7 år. Patienter med återkommande luxationer hade en minskad postoperativ global FO, förkortad LLD och grundare acetabulum på den opererade sidan jämfört med kontroller. Studie IV: Prospektiv kohortstudie av 840 patienter med felställd FNF där patienter som ingick i en RCT jämförs med de som inte gav sitt samtycke för deltagande eller ej inkluderats i screeningprocessen. De patienterna som inte gav sitt samtycke hade ökad dödlighet, men ingen skillnad i höftfunktion jämfört med deltagare. Slutsatser • Friska och kognitivt vitala äldre patienter med god höftfunktion innan en felställd lårbenshalsfraktur bör behandlas med total höftledsprotes. • DLsnittföring ger ett lika bra patientrapporterad höftfunktion men en ökad förekomst av hälta jämfört med PL snitt vid behandling med halvprotes på grund av en felställd lårbenshalsfraktur. • Ansträngning bör göras för att återställa benlängdsskillnad samtfemoral offset och därigenom minska risken för återkommande luxation. • Våra resultat tyder på att patienter som deltar i en randomiserad studie har lägre dödlighet än patienter som avböjt att delta samt de som missats i screeningprocessen. Det är viktigt att ta hänsyn till när extrapolerar studieresultat till ett hälso-och sjukvårdssystem. Detta bör vägas in i värderingen av studieresultatens externa validitet.

Die Entwicklung moderner minimal-invasiver Diagnose- und Behandlungsverfahren auf dem Gebiet der kolorektalen Adenome und Karzinome ermöglicht eine effektive Überwachung von Risikopersonen, andererseits erfolgt durch die endoskopische Abtragung oder transanale bzw. TEM-technische Resektion von Adenomen bereits eine erhebliche Karzinomprävention. Die Einführung der laparoskopischen Technik bei der Resektion kolorektaler Tumoren könnte nach Evaluierung der bisherigen Ergebnisse zu einer weiteren Verringerung der Hospitalisierung und operationsassoziierten Morbidität der Patienten bei gleicher Prognose führen. Kennzeichnend für familiäre Formen des kolorektalen Karzinoms ist das hohe Risiko für die Entwicklung kolorektaler Tumoren, jedoch auch für weitere extrakolonische Neoplasien. Dies trifft für das hereditäre Nicht-Polyposis-assoziierte kolorektale Karzinom (HNPCC), die familiäre Polyposis (FAP) und die selteneren Formen wie Peutz-Jeghers-Syndrom und juvenile Polyposis zu. Die Anwendung der molekularen Diagnostik in diesen Familien ermöglicht durch die Identifizierung von Mutationsträgern und Nichtmutationsträgern einerseits die gezielte Eingliederung von Hochrisikopersonen (Mutationsträgern) in spezielle, auf das jeweilige Syndrom zugeschnittene Überwachungs- und Vorsorgeprogramme und erspart andererseits Personen mit durchschnittlichem Risiko (Nichtmutationsträgern) unnötige und teilweise invasive Diagnostik. Bezüglich des chirurgischen Vorgehens bei Patienten mit einer Form des hereditären kolorektalen Karzinoms gibt es bereits etablierte Verfahren, wie die Durchführung einer restaurativen Proktokolektomie bei der FAP, bei anderen Formen, wie bei HNPCC, sind diese noch in der Diskussion. Wesentliche Fortschritte bei der Prävention kolorektaler Tumoren sind in den nächsten Jahren möglicherweise auf dem Gebiet der Chemoprävention zu erwarten. / Development of modern, minimally invasive methods for diagnosis and treatment in the field of colorectal tumours enables an effective surveillance for persons at high risk as well as a distinct cancer prevention by endoscopic, transanal or TEM removal of colorectal adenomas. Introduction of laparoscopic techniques in the resection of colorectal tumours could entail, after evaluation of preliminary results, a decreased duration of hospitalisation and procedure-associated morbidity in patients with the same prognosis. The very high risk for development of colorectal tumours as well as for some extracolonic neoplasia is typical for familial colorectal cancer syndromes. This concerns hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) syndrome, familial polyposis coli, and the infrequent forms like Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and juvenile polyposis. Molecular diagnostics has the power to identify carriers and noncarriers of a mutated gene in these families and therefore may permit clear-cut decisions regarding inclusion in special surveillance programmes, which is recommended for all persons at risk from affected families. Concerning the surgical approach in patients with hereditary colorectal cancer, well-accepted routine procedures like restorative proctocolectomy in familiar polyposis patients have already been established; in other forms like HNPCC the best surgical modality is still under discussion. Remarkable progress in the prevention of colorectal tumours could be expected from chemoprevention trials in the next years. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.