Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, often called HNPCC or Lynch syndrome, is a type of inherited cancer of the digestive tract, particularly the colon (large intestine) and rectum. People with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer also have an increased risk of cancers of the stomach, small intestine, liver and gallbladder ducts, upper urinary tract, brain, skin, and prostate. Women with this disorder have a greatly increased risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer. Even though the disorder is described using the term nonpolyposis, people with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer may have occasional noncancerous growths in the colon called polyps. These colon polyps occur at an earlier age of onset than do colon polyps in the general population. Although the polyps do not occur in greater numbers than in the general population, they are more prone to become cancerous.