The Saudi Hereditary Colorectal Tumor Registry: status and challenges

abstract

 The Saudi Hereditary Colorectal Tumor Registry was established in 2008 at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, providing registration of individuals and families with hereditary colorectal diseases, including, but not limited to, familial adenomatous polyposis and Lynch syndrome. The registry has faced numerous challenges, including the inability to recruit experienced qualified staff and fulfill all molecular genetic services required, and most importantly, the lack of a national policy to refer all patients with hereditary colorectal tumours to the registry. The authors suggest that a robust registry service for hereditary colorectal tumors in Saudi Arabia requires the formulation of a national committee, to identify all challenges and develop national solutions as part of a strategic plan with well-defined targets and goals. This article discusses how local and global challenges are affecting the growth of the Saudi Hereditary Colorectal Tumor Registry.