Familial juvenile polyposis of the colon

Familial juvenile polyposis of the colon is characterized by multiple juvenile polyps, frequent recurrences, and a family history of carcinoma or adenomatous polyposis of the colon. Two cases are presented, and the 6 previously reported families with this condition are summarized. A few of the lesions in these patients had features of both juvenile and adenomatous polyps, and one patient had an adenomatous polyp of the jejunum. Further studies are necessary to determine the frequency with which juvenile polyposis and carcinoma of the colon occur in the same family, and to identify a possible relationship between the 2 in these families.