Lynch Syndrome

What are the screening options for Lynch syndrome?

It is important to discuss with your doctor the following screening options, as each individual is different:

General screening guidelines

Colonoscopy every one to two years, beginning between the ages of 20 to 25 (or five years younger than the earliest age at diagnosis in the family, whichever is sooner)

Periodic upper endoscopy screening (this procedure uses a thin, flexible tube with a light inserted into the body to examine a specific region) for stomach or intestinal cancer (especially if a family member has had one of these cancers)

Yearly urine cytology to screen for urinary tract cancer

Screening for women

Yearly pelvic examination, Pap test, transvaginal ultrasound (a test where an small ultrasound probe is inserted for a pelvic examination in order to obtain better imaging of the uterus), endometrial biopsy (an examination on a sample of tissue from the inner lining of the uterus done as a part of a pelvic examination), and CA-125 blood test (a test to detect a protein found to be elevated in the blood of some women with ovarian cancer), beginning between the ages of 25 to 30

Screening options may change over time as new technologies are developed and more is learned about Lynch syndrome. It is important to talk with your doctor about appropriate screening tests.