Sparing the rectum in familial polyposis: causes for failure.

Familial polyposis is a hereditary premalignant condition that culminates in the development of large-bowel cancer in the untreated patient. Controversy exists about the most appropriate prophylactic treatment; the alternatives are proctocolectomy and ileostomy versus colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis. There is discrepancy in the surgical literature about the exact incidence of subsequent rectal cancer in patients who undergo colectomy and...