Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An appraisal of small and diminutive colonic polyps

  • Published:
Surgical Endoscopy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A retrospective review of all colonoscopic polypectomies performed in a busy surgical endoscopy unit over a 6-month period was undertaken. All patients were included who presented with colonic polyps measuring less than 1 cm in diameter for which sufficient specimens were available for histopathologic examination. In all, 262 were polyps removed from 206 patients; of these, 158 (60%) were neoplastic. There was a statistically significant predilection for polyps in the right colon to be neoplastic. Worrisome histologie patterns (severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, or invasive carcinoma) were seen in 18 specimens (6.5%). In two patients, polypoid carcinoma could be identified; in one case it involved a lesion measuring 0.2 cm in diameter. Since these lesions exhibit no distinctive gross features, only their endoscopie removal and histologie study can ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Achkar E, Carey W (1988) Small polyps found during fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy in asymptomatic patients. Ann Intern Med 109: 880–883

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Boring CC, Squires TS, Tong T (1991) Cancer statistics, 1991. CA 41:19–36

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Buie LA, Brust JC (1935) Solitary adenomata of the rectum and lower sigmoid. Trans Am Proctol Soc 36: 57–67

    Google Scholar 

  4. Castleman B, Krickstein H (1962) Do adenomatous polyps of the colon become malignant? N Engl J Med 267: 469–475

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Church JM, Fazio VW, Jones IT (1988) Small colorectal polyps. Dis Colon Rectum 31:50–53

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Edgar A, William C (1988) Small polyps found during fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy in asymptomatic patients. Ann Intern Med 109: 880–883

    Google Scholar 

  7. Feczko PJ, Bernstein MA, Halpert RD, Ackerman L (1984) Small colonic polyps: a reappraisal of their significance. Radiology 152: 301–303

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Fenoglio CM, Lane N (1974) The anatomic precursor of colorectal cancer. Cancer 34: 819–823

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Granqvist S, Gabrielsson P, Sundelin P (1979) Diminutive colonic polyps clinical significance and management. Endoscopy 11: 36 - 42

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Knoernschild H (1963) Growth rate and malignant potential of colonic polyps: early results. Surg Forum 14: 137–138

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Lane N, Lev R (1963) Observation on the origins of adeomatous epithelium of the colon. Cancer 16: 751

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Morson BC (1974) The polyp cancer sequence in the large bowel. Proc R Soc Med 67: 451 -457

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Morson BC (1976) The pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. In: Bennington JL (ed) Major problems in pathology, vol 10. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 1 -13

    Google Scholar 

  14. Muto T, Bussey HJR, Morson BC (1975) The evolution of cancer of colon and rectum. Cancer 36: 2251–2270

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Riddell RH (1990) Development and evolution of adenomas and carcinomas of the large bowel. In: Gelfand DW, Laufer I (eds) Colon cancer: diagnosis in an era of cost containment. American College of Radiology, Baltimore, pp 23–24

    Google Scholar 

  16. Rift E, Dehaan K, Garewal S (1990) The role of sigmoidoscopy in asymptomatic patients. Cleve Clin J Med 57: 131–136

    Google Scholar 

  17. Ryan ME, Norfleet RG, Kirchner JP, Parent K, Nunez JF, Rhodes RA, Wyman JB (1989) The significance of diminutive colonic polyps found at flexible sigmoidoscopy. Gastrointest Endosc 35: 85 - 89

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Shinya H, Wolff H (1979) Morphology, anatomic distribution and cancer potential of colonic polyps. Ann Surg 190: 679 - 683

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Spencer RJ, Melton L, Ready R, Ilstrup M (1984) Treatment of small colorectal polyps: a population-based study of the risk of subsequent carcinoma. Mayo Clin Proc 59: 305–310

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Spratt JS, Ackerman LV, Moyer CA (1958) Relationship of polyps of the colon to colonic cancer. Ann Surg 148: 682–698

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Tedesco F, Hendrix J, Pickens C, Brady P, Mills L (1982) Diminutive polyps: histopathology, spatial distribution and clinical significance. Gastrointest Endosc 28: 1 -5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Urbanski SJ, Haber G, Kortan P, Marcon NE (1988) Small colonic adenomas with adenocarcinoma. A retrospective analysis. Dis Colon Rectum 31: 58–61

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Waye JD, Lewis BS, Frankel A, Geller SA (1988) Small colon polyps. Am J Gastroenterol 83: 120–122

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Wolff W, Shinya H (1973) A new approach to the management of colonic polyps. In: Hardy J, Zollinger RM (eds) Advances in surgery. Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago, pp 45–64

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York, USA

    John M. Cosgrove, Noel Tenenbaum & Irving B. Margolis

  2. Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, USA

    William I. Wolff

Authors
  1. John M. Cosgrove
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. William I. Wolff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Noel Tenenbaum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Irving B. Margolis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cosgrove, J.M., Wolff, W.I., Tenenbaum, N. et al. An appraisal of small and diminutive colonic polyps. Surg Endosc 5, 143–145 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02653222

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02653222

Key words

Search

Navigation