hereditary syndrome
(heh-REH-dih-tayr-ee SIN-drome)
A disorder caused by mutations (changes) in certain genes or chromosomes that are passed down from parent to child. Hereditary syndromes may be inherited from one or both parents, and several close family members (such as a mother, daughter, and sister) may have the same disorder. There are many different types of hereditary syndromes, including those in which family members have a higher-than-normal risk of developing certain types of cancer.