Pediatric manifestations of Lynch Syndrome
Mentor Name: Suzanne MacFarland
Lynch Syndrome is currently considered an adult-onset cancer predisposition syndrome, with risk of colon cancer and other cancer types in early adulthood, and no cancer screening required in childhood. However, there have been reports of an increased rate of Lynch Syndrome in pediatric cancer patients. As we do not test for Lynch syndrome in childhood, we cannot evaluate the cancer risk, or if any additional monitoring is required for these patients, should they develop cancer. We plan to evaluate patients diagnosed in childhood with Lynch syndrome - through review of records both at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania - to better understand the cancer risk - and any other risks, including increased risks with receiving chemotherapy and radiation - associated with a diagnosis of Lynch Syndrome in childhood.
